Yahoo Answers is shutting down on 4 May 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Can I sell my writing elsewhere?

I work as a "volunteer" for an online magazine. I have not signed any contracts with this magazine, and they haven't paid me anything. The agreement four months ago was that once the magazine made ad revenue, all staff would be paid. They said it'd be three months, but I still haven't seen a dime.

I've written several articles for this magazine. They have a disclaimer inside that says they own all of the content (it's their copyright) but like I said, I never signed any contracts with them and they haven't paid me anything.

Can I sell these articles to another publication (one willing to give me a contract and actually pay me)? Or can I at least rewrite these articles, retitle them, then sell them elsewhere? I'm concerned about getting sued, but from what I understand, there's not much they can do without a contract....

1 Answer

Relevance
  • 8 years ago
    Favourite answer

    If you are an "employee" then they own the copyright. If you are an independent contractor, then you own the copyright, regardless of what they might "say" in their magazine. They would have to prove you signed a proper work-for-hire agreement. Simple as that.

Still have questions? Get answers by asking now.