At 11:08 18/04/2007, you wrote:
>For oral history clearances, the contributor is encouraged to assign
>over copyright.
It is currently standard practice in oral history circles to ask
people to assign their copyright to the institution, and even to have
that as the default assumption. The model copyright and consent form
given on the Oral History Society web-site, for example, does not
give the contributor any other option (
http://www.ohs.org.uk/public_docs/copyright.pdf) It certainly makes
administrative life a lot easier.
Personally, however - and this is a position I argue within the Oral
History Society Committee -, I would approach the issue differently,
and instead of asking or encouraging the individual to assign
copyright, I would suggest that we encourage the contributor to make
an informed decision about copyright. It can and does make
administrative life more difficult, especially if the choice is not
to assign - but it also encourages a sense, which becomes a reality,
of partnership, ownership, and mutual engagement. More difficult, but
immensely rewarding; as well as productive in ways that are unexpected.
The form we currently use, which is far from perfect (feedback very
welcome - it has developed out of feedback), is online at
http://www.pettarchiv.org.uk/copyright-and-release-form.htm .
Craig
Dr. Craig Fees
Planned Environment Therapy Trust Archive and Study Centre
Church Lane
Toddington
near Cheltenham
Glos. GL54 5DQ
United Kingdom
Phone/fax 01242 620125
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.pettarchiv.org.uk
|