Do You Own Your Writings Here On ATS?

I've been flirting with the idea of becoming a writer here on ATS, but I'm concerned over perhaps not owning my writing projects here on ATS. As a more or less serious writer, this concerns me because I want to at least have the option of selling them in the future. I would prefer comments from a mod or higher, but anyone who has verified information is welcome to comment. By the way, I used the search function and couldn't find anything similar to this thread. That also makes me wonder why no one has thought to ask this.

From T + C

18) DMCA Enforcement: By posting on these domains, you grant TAN the right to seek enforcement and legal remedy for any and all discovered usage violations falling under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and the Creative Commons License. Remedy in such cases, will place a priority on proper attribution of you as the author and a link-back to your post (or posts), rather than removal. For more information about our DMCA policy and how to file a DMCA takedown notice, please see our DMCA Policy Page.

I am pretty sure that means that not only the author owns their content, but ATS might even help you out should someone try and steal content you post here. Obviously I am not a mod or official and could be totally wrong. Hopefully I didn't just make myself look like an idiot lol.

Ooops. I think I did make an ass out of myself.

17) Rights In Posted Materials: By posting on this message board, you relinquish all exclusive copyrights to any materials you Post and furthermore, you grant TAN non-exclusive, non-revocable worldwide, royalty-free rights to copy, distribute, display, reproduce, modify, adapt, create derivative works, and publicly perform the materials in perpetuity in all forms. This license applies to all works of authorship including, but not limited to, written materials (e.g., text), audio, audio-visual materials, graphics, and images (including, but not limited to, graphics and images used as avatars). You also grant all third parties the right to copy, distribute, display, reproduces, and publicly perform the materials you post under the terms of the Creative Commons License. TAN has the authority to decide to display your postings or not, and you grant TAN the right to modify your posts, remove offensive material, modify your post title to accurately reflect content, remove vulgar comments, remove insults, or delete any other content deemed inappropriate, all at our discretion.

I am kinda glad I read this, gotta be very careful with what artwork I post here lol.

I saw it was resolved, finally, and it was good. :/

Wait to hear from a Mod. I asked nearly the same question, via PM, to a Mod, about a year ago, and the explanation put me at ease. Not that I've gotten on with it...

I think it was ToTheTenthPower who answered my question.

The million dollar question is: Would TAN actually go after a member for copyright infringement (or whatever) if they used their own material for proprietary purposes after they had signed over their exclusive rights to it?

reply to post by gwynnhwyfar


I'd definitely like to hear from a mod. I would U2U one, but I think it'd be better if a thread like this existed with the answer intact.

YOU, and every MEMBER who posts here 'OWN' whatever it is you place, post on the boards....

the only 'caveat', per se, is that you also give/grant TAN non-exclusive rights to the same...

meaning that ATS/TAN can do what they want with your content just as you can continue to do your own self.

no harm nor foul either way !??

reply to post by TKDRL


What you quoted here was what made me wonder (I read this part of the t&c back when I first joined). I can't believe that all the writers are naive! ATS members are way too intelligent for that.

reply to post by 12m8keall2c


Would TAN honor a request to remove content from ATS if requested by a member due to proprietary reasons? For instance, you were making some coin from your writings, but then people figured out they could get them on ATS for free and the bottom drops out on you.

Would they work with members on things like that?

reply to post by brazenalderpadrescorpio

I've been flirting with the idea of becoming a writer here on ATS, but I'm concerned over perhaps not owning my writing projects here on ATS.

Maybe its just me but if you want to own it don't put it online. If its that good, publish it in the paper world.

reply to post by NthOther


that's why it's always best for 'authors' to secure their works elsewhere or otherwise prior to 'publishing' it on the 'internet'.... anywhere.

once done is done.

[ETA]
MY knowledge is such that most publishers won't be interested if it, or any part thereof has been 'posted/published' elsewhere previously..

17) Rights In Posted Materials: By posting on this message board, you relinquish all exclusive copyrights to any materials you Post and furthermore, you grant TAN non-exclusive, non-revocable worldwide, royalty-free rights to copy, distribute, display, reproduce, modify, adapt, create derivative works, and publicly perform the materials in perpetuity in all forms. This license applies to all works of authorship including, but not limited to, written materials (e.g., text), audio, audio-visual materials, graphics, and images (including, but not limited to, graphics and images used as avatars). You also grant all third parties the right to copy, distribute, display, reproduces, and publicly perform the materials you post under the terms of the Creative Commons License. TAN has the authority to decide to display your postings or not, and you grant TAN the right to modify your posts, remove offensive material, modify your post title to accurately reflect content, remove vulgar comments, remove insults, or delete any other content deemed inappropriate, all at our discretion.

Think public domain, like the song Happy Birthday for instance. You or anyone else, LAN included, can use elsewhere what you or anyone else writes here, but it's under these rules that state that no money can be made from any of it. That's not to say that you can't put your posts on your own personal or business blogs for the intent of driving traffic to it in order to sell something else. You made money, but not from the text that you copied onto your blog that originated here. Not directly at least, and if you have a slew of articles on your blog that did not originate here and a few that did, there is no way of knowing which one's had more influence that drove the traffic.

That being said, if you're just starting out in the writing game you can use this site as a platform to better hone your writing skills. Just don't put anything on here that you feel you could make money from in the future. I've contributed a lot of content to this site, but nothing compared to what I'm capable of because that extra amount I could have put on, is better than what I did put on. What I've held onto is more likely to make me money in the future in other words.You have to have the experience to know the difference and the discipline to keep them separated.

Good luck.

reply to post by 12m8keall2c


I also saw your previous post by the way. Yeah, it's a lot of information to consider before becoming a writer here on ATS. I'm going to consider all of it.

reply to post by brazenalderpadrescorpio



In all honesty...

if you're looking 'to Get published' ... it'd likely be best to seek outlets offering such...

but ... if you're simply looking to 'share your wares', so to speak .... you've certainly come to the right place.

we've 'writers' from more than three continents, 16 nations, umpteen cultures, etc..

you'l fit right in like kin. !!

Welcome to ATS!!!

I'm Jon ... by the way. derp



* not necessarily 'one of the writers', per se..... but



... i've been known to spin a yarn or three..

reply to post by 12m8keall2c


Yeah, I kind of would like to see it as an opportunity to express myself just for the fun of it. You know what they say, a writer writes!

As an author operating in E-books and here on ATS, I thought I would chime in with some examples.

I like examples, they tend to clarify things.

I have a number of short stories on ATS, I will refer to two of them.

Pure Love

The Battle Dreadnought Aurora, RD05. [Nov2013]

Now, I own the copyright to these two short stories AND ATS may use them at their discretion.

I will make these two stories into books at some time! The short stories will effectively be Chapter 1 of both books and the Chapter 1 will be 'meatier.'

ATS will have no claim over the 'meatier' version, nor will they have any claim over the book or any part thereof.


Getting your short stories out there is good for a new author. No Publisher is going to say no based on a shortened version of chapter 1 being 'out there.' Quite the opposite in fact, they can gauge the response to your work and this is a good thing for them and for you.

I doubt anyone is going to publish a full book on ATS, but seriously, even if you did, you still have the rights to it, and frankly, the number of members using the short stories forum is tiny compared to the wide world.

You have to get known, short stories are one good way of getting started!


Mods, may I suggest a summary post in the Short Stories forum, as a sticky, since this question is asked occasionally.

With respect,

P

Edit to add: What could ATS do with your story in any case? Publish it in a published book of short stories AND having to give the Author full credit? For me or any Author, that would be a wet dream! It is all good, nothing to fear!

reply to post by Taupin Desciple


That's 100% INCORRECT if it's your own content. You are free to make as much money as you can off any content you post on this site, so are we. Where you're getting confused is that nobody else but you and us is allowed to.

reply to post by Taupin Desciple


For some reason, I'm neglecting to see posts here. Thanks, your post is good information to keep in mind.

reply to post by pheonix358


Thanks for your advice. It seems like redacting them would make sense if you'd be interested in selling them in the future.