Daviddarlin', as a freelancer, I've always retained all rights to my pieces which have appeared in newspapers, still do for that matter and I've been told it would be illegal for anyone to re-use them without my permission. In fact, a book publisher which used one of them contacted me before the Supreme Court case was done, to ask for and purchase the right to use the same article in a subscription online database. For the book, they had signed a one-time only North American rights agreement.

For more on the original case, please see the Washington Times article, with links. You may also read writers' rights and about the Supreme Court case, including the full text of the case by going to the NWU site and scrolling down on the left, then choosing Tasini VS NYtimes, then follow the links.

Of course there are some pro-writers articles there, but there is also the court data, etc.

I realise the NYTimes has a right to blackball certain writers, but I had thought that decision should belong to an editor, not their lawyer, as has been pointed out. I also think it is something to be publicised, regardless, as it has obviously been done in retaliation for the writers winning the Supreme Court case.

The NWU is in the middle of an election campaign for officers and I know both "sides" are hyping a lot, but this does effect all freelancers, in some way. Don't think for a minute that the big boys don't talk amongst themselves. The blacklisting may not be industry-wide, yet, but these writers stuck their necks out, won, and are now having to pay for it in loss of work. I hope other papers are not too chickenshit to buy their stuff, as long as it is relevant and well-written.

Thanks,

kat