Legal Issues All Freelance Writers Should Know
Heads up! Make sure to learn some key information as you journey out into your freelancing career. Be careful of copyright violations, disclosure issues, non-competition clauses and other issues.
Make sure you know which publication rights you are selling! First North American Serial Rights? One time print rights? Find out about copyright and publication rights here.
Legal terms that every writer should know.
Explains how to check for plagiarism in your work.
How to write a freelance contract. From scratch! Independent contractors often need to write their own contracts. What should you include in a freelance writing contract?
Landed a gig? Congratulations! What's the next step? Protecting yourself and communicating with your new client via the use of a freelance contract. There are many different levels and types of contracts, from a very simple Letter of Agreement all the way to a binding legal document.
Bridget Johnson, About's Journalism Guide, lays out the basics on plagiarism, along with a famous legal case involving stolen work. Take a look, be careful and
always cite your sources!If you engage in any business to business contractual writing, you may be asked to sign a "non-compete" agreement. Find out what this is before you're asked to sign one!
If you are engaging in a contract with a client, you may be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) as part of that contract. Find out what exactly it is before you are asked to sign!
