A contributor from the Association for Consulting Expertise suggests ways for a reader to makes sure a presentation or other original works remain original and aren’t used by others without permission.
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Q: I am a frequent guest presenter at conferences and meetings. While I do not mind having my presentation recorded, I recently learned that the organizer of an event posted a recording without my permission. Adding insult to injury, my name was not mentioned; my introduction was edited out. How can I stop this from happening again?
ACE Advises: Creators of original works have exclusive rights to the works’ use and distribution. Authors, presenters and recorders are all creators.
You authored and presented the speech. You own the copyrights to the speech and the presentation, and therefore control how they can be used and distributed.
Permission to record is NOT the same as permission to distribute. To distribute the recording, the recorder must have permission of the author and the presenter.
In your case that did not happen. Practical tips:
1. Talk ahead of time: Do not assume that everyone agrees on what will happen to your original content. You may be fine with recording, but you still have an interest in how the recording is presented to the public. You certainly should receive attribution. If the recording is edited before it posts, you can ask to review and approve those edits.
2. Be proactive: If you show slides, brand them. If you provide downloadable material, brand it. If you present from a remote location, brand your background.
3. Get it in writing: Many organizers have a standard presenter contract. If not, it is in your interest to have your own. If your motivation is to get your name in front of new audiences, and not money, your contract can be straightforward. Think about how you want audiences to see you and make sure you retain reasonable control.
4. Content is valuable: Ask for a copy of the recording, and for permission to recycle it as a derivative work for your own purposes.
For more on this topic, see “Posting Presentations: Basic Copyright Considerations for Presenters and Organizers” at consultexpertise.com/blog/10134265.
Carrie Green Yardley is an attorney at Yardley Esq. PLLC, a law firm providing services to small businesses and their owners from start-up through estate planning. She can be reached at carrie@yardleyesq.com.
