Thus spake "Gerardo @neorigami.com" <[email protected]> on 9/17/14 11:38 AM:
> So, origami books get made, right? For that, sometimes we are asked to > submit diagrams to create a compilation, right? Is there usually a legal > document asking exclusivity of those diagrams if they get accepted (not to > upload them in the web nor submit them to another book or magazine)? Is > there no document but more of an implicit ethical code that expects that > you won't share them or that at least you'll wait for a couple of months > after the book is being sold to start doing that? Is there nothing of this, > and it's totally ok to do with your diagrams and model whatever you want > even if they are now part of an specific book? There is a wide range of policy on this issue. Commercial publishers usually include language on exclusivity in the written contact. Origami convention books often ask nothing in the way of exclusivity. Some publications merely ask for embargo (I.e., they ask you not to republish them for a set period of time.) If you are providing diagrams, even if the publisher does not say anything about exclusivity, it's always a good idea to ask them what their expectations are, to avoid misunderstandings down the road. And it's also almost always acceptable to ask for what YOU want. Most non-commercial publishers are very flexible on exclusivity, and even commercial ones can often be persuaded to allow exceptions: for example, if your diagrams will go into a book, the publisher may still allow you to send them to limited-circulation outlets like origami convention books or society magazines. The important thing is to ask for what you want; then decide whether to engage with them based on the outcome of the discussion. One thing to watch out for with commercial publishers is if they ask you to do a "work for hire" or "assign all rights." That basically amounts to exclusivity; it means they own your diagrams and you can't do anything else with them. If they ask for that, make sure you understand the implications and decide before you sign it whether the compensation being offered is worth it. TL;DR: there's not a common policy. Talk about it with the publisher. Hope this helps, Robert
