Noticed in the terms that they state -
"This fee is for acquisition of all rights in the work"
Just wondered if this was standard?
Not a money thing, like others I would be thrilled just to get a sketch used £18 or not. But it did occur to me what would be the situation if you wanted to use 'characters' from your broadcast 2525 sketch in something else later. Would they own the characters?
They own the lot, any contract will sign it over
So is this standard?
Well, you could argue it under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, but you won't get anywhere. You can't sell someone a sandwich then insist they give you the crusts back.
At this level yes, I've got a growing stack of ndas and copyright wavers next to my computer
Basically you don't get to keep your intellectual property until you're big enough, for them to come to you
Quote: Jennie @ August 23 2013, 9:28 AM BSTWell, you could argue it under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, but you won't get anywhere. You can't sell someone a sandwich then insist they give you the crusts back.
Thanks for the legal advice Jennie, now how much do I owe you?
I was just wondering if this is standard? (Sooty has answered this whilst I typed)
As well as being a failed script writer I am also a failed playwright. There an author would sell/licence performance rights only and retain all rights in the work. So I was just wondering how it worked on the radio/t.v?
Well when the BBC calls you in as a writer or comissions one of your sitcoms. Then the rules change and you start talking about ownership of rights, repeat fees etc.
I believe with pantos you get paid per hour of perfomance.
It's partly because imagine how much of anightmare it would be for some editor, to assign 30 50p payments everytime an episode was rebroadcast of a sketch show
I wouldn't worry about it; just write the sketches and send them off. As a writer you should be able to come up with more ideas. Lots more. If you have written something that you think you'd want to develop yourself, don't send it.
Good advice and the £36 payment is more a gratuitee than the real aim.
What you want is for someone to say, liked your stuff care to send me something you're really interested in?
Does happen, certainly a couple of BBC staff writers started pegging skits at open access shows.
Also you will have better ideas in your life, you'll keep growing.
Like a flower.
Of comedy.
(you can of course just ask nicely if they mind you reusing ideas, they often do. I ghostwrote a standup guide for some guy, asked if I could resell it in the UK and give him half the money. He said yes, a friend wrote some music for the BBC and asked nicely if he could retain IP, they also said yes)