BACK TO Ways to Help HOME PAGE

Page 11 of 14

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 «Previous  Next» 13 14

START UP A LOCAL TN

APPENDIX 1

COPYRIGHT AND THE TALKING NEWSPAPER

The right to copy material, whether it is in print or on tape, exists from the moment the material is published, and any person wishing to make a copy or copies of that material is required by law to secure, and often pay for, permission to make a copy.

That is a simple statement of a complex situation, and Talking Newspapers do well to know where they stand in regard to copyright. Some brief observations are made upon particular aspects of copying in the next few paragraphs, but any Talking Newspaper that has doubts is invited to raise them with the Talking News Federation for clarification if that is possible.

Reading the local newspaper onto tape is one form of copying it, but as most Talking Newspapers are not only recognised but actively supported by the local press, the question of infringing copyright should not arise. It is essential to obtain consent to make use of local newspapers, as part of the process of exploring resources when setting up a scheme. If material is read from the county journal or similar periodical, permission must be sought in advance and the source acknowledged on the tape.

If you wish to serialise books, write to the author c/o the publisher and ask his or her permission. Explain the purpose for which the permission is required and emphasise that the cassettes are distributed free by a wholly voluntary organisation and that the cassettes are all returned and used again.

The Performing Rights Society guards the rights of its members in regard to public performance, broadcasting and wired diffusion - activities which are not usually close to the work of the Talking Newspaper. If however there are occasions when advice on these matters is needed, it may be obtained from the Society at 29 - 33 Berners Street, London W1P 4AA.

The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society, Elgar House, 380 Streatham High Road, London SW16 6HR looks after the interests if most, or not all, the British music publishers, and it has decided that no payment of fee shall be required for the recording of their music by members of TNF in connection with the weekly recorded Talking Newspapers where the individual use of any one musical work does not exceed one minute thirty seconds in duration. It is a condition of waiver of copyright that no copying is made of any music contents of the programmes by any third party.

The rights of record producers in their sound recordings are the concern of the British Phonographic Industry Copyright Association and its Management Committee has agreed to a waiver to members of the Talking News Federation on the firm understanding that there is no commercial element involved.

Page 11 of 14

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 «Previous  Next» 13 14

BACK TO Ways to Help HOME PAGE