Requesting Articles to Build Content

Who owns the copyright?

[Bradley]

In an effort to build a website with constantly revolving content, we are brainstorming a website idea that would allow companies to submit articles to the site. If the companies submit an article, they would receive free promotion/advertising because we would give them a link back to their site.

My question revolves around the copyright / ownership of the articles. If we request companies to write new articles specifically for our site, should their submitted articles be owned by us, or by them? (I noticed that Webmasterworld says "All trademarks and copyrights held by respective owners. Member comments are owned by the poster.")

My concern revolves around duplicate content. I don't want the vendors submitting their article to hundreds of resources like ours - and then our site gets in trouble for duplicate content. If the article becomes our property, could/would that prevent the authors from sharing the article with other resources on the internet?

Ideally and theoretically, we would get contributing authors that would write solely for our site - and would not provide their articles to other resources.

Are these valid concerns? Sometimes I think that it would be great to have ownership of the articles, but then I inherit any/all legal liabilities associated with the article. On the other side of the coin, I think it would be easier to let the author maintain ownership (this eliminates my legal liability) and encourage the author to *not* distribute their article to other resources. With this approach, "let the best resource win"

[mat_bastian]

I have run into this as a content writer so I can tell you, looking at it from my side of the street, that better be one heck of a link you are providing in exchange for you to retain ownership of my work. The scenario you are hoping to venture into is way to much of a one way street. If it were me who were doing your content development for your site, I would say that it would be a cold day in he11 that I am gonna provide exclusive content for someone elses site in exchange for a paltry reward. I would retain all rights and ownership and could post it anywhere I please. If you want content... no strike that... if you want exclusive content, I think you need to be prepared to compensate.

No offense is meant by this and I respect your Idea and have thought of this kind of thing as well, but without the restrictions you are thinking of. Good luck to ya.

Mat

I am curious about the duplicate content implications though. Interesting idea for a thread.

[Bradley]

Thanks Mat for the feedback. Your strong opinion has helped me evaluate the situation. As you have pointed out, exclusivity requires a great reward. That reward could be defined as money (payment) or co-op advertising, among other things. There needs to be an immediate reward/benefit for exclusive articles. Based on your comments, the best approach seems NOT to require exclusivity. That way, companies will be encouraged to submit articles.

IF (and I strongly emphasize the word "IF") the resource were to become a HUGE success over time, then I think you could possibly re-evaluate the possibility of a exclusivity clause. If a resource was generating, say, 2 million viewers per week, then I think companies would be willing to write exclusive articles for the free advertising...........Wouldn't you agree?

And no offense was taken. Your feedback with supporting reasons has helped me give new direction to my ideas. When a person brainstorms ideas, there are lots of pros and cons to consider.

[Visit Thailand]

Basically no proffesional writer worth his salt will write for you in exchange for a link.

There are three basic types of writers :

1) Pros - who work full time with a publication (and may freelance on the side under a psuedo)

2) Pros and Ams - freelancers who work on an article basis and are generally paid per word or per article depending on contract.

3) Anyone - anyone with an interest and some spare time who enjoys writing.

As for exclusive, tricky subject, I know freelancers that will write you an article which as per contract is supposed to be exclusive and then will just rehash it for someone else. This happens all the time.

[mat_bastian]

Oh yeah... I would agree that if there was a large amount of targeted traffic, It may be reward enough. If macromedia or apple came and asked me to write for thier site and offer a link, my knee jerk reaction would be to jump all over it, but then again, i would be curious why my work is only worth a link.

thanks for keeping an open mind. I'm sure whatever you decide will be well thought out and not without careful consideration.

[Bradley]

Another good approach which I thought of and acted upon is to do some primary research. I sent out a survery to the companies and requested their feedback. The response was positive thus far. Hopefully the resource will be like a snowball going down a hill - it will build and build and build. When companies see other companies submitting articles, that might spark their own interest. We shall see.