Read on Twitter
I’m standing in my kitchen, feeling the warmth of the sun streaming in through the window, and reading what people are saying about videos of read-alouds.
Time for an educational thread about audio recordings of books, rights, and sub-rights.
Time for an educational thread about audio recordings of books, rights, and sub-rights.
I’m an author. I write the words in my books. I retain the copyright on those words, which means that nobody else can replicate those exact words in that exact order anywhere else, in any way, shape, or form, print, audio, video, ebook, etc, *unless I give them permission.*
The reason my words exist in the form of a book is that I have *given permission* to a publisher to replicate my words in print in physical book form. We have a contract that stipulates this: they gave me a specified amount of money, and I gave them this specific permission.
Now:
The audio recording of those same words is a *sub-right.* It requires *additional permission.*
Sometimes that permission is granted to a publisher at the same time as permission to print the words in a book, and the contract will say so.
The audio recording of those same words is a *sub-right.* It requires *additional permission.*
Sometimes that permission is granted to a publisher at the same time as permission to print the words in a book, and the contract will say so.
Sometimes the author *retains* that sub-right, which means they do not give permission to the publisher to make an audio recording of their words. If this is the case, again, *the contract will say that the author retains audio rights*.
If the author has retained audio rights to their words, they can *give permission* to someone else to make an audio recording of their words.
Usually, they give this permission to a company that produces audiobooks, like Audible (which both produces & sells), in exchange for $.
Usually, they give this permission to a company that produces audiobooks, like Audible (which both produces & sells), in exchange for $.
Once an author has given this permission, that company is the ONLY one who can make an audio recording.
The *only person* who has the right to record a video of themself reading a book is the *person who has licensed that right from the author.*
The *only person* who has the right to record a video of themself reading a book is the *person who has licensed that right from the author.*
That is USUALLY the publisher.
It is SOMETIMES a company that produces audiobooks.
It is OCCASIONALLY the author themself, if they haven’t signed a contract giving away this permission.
Every book will be different.
It is SOMETIMES a company that produces audiobooks.
It is OCCASIONALLY the author themself, if they haven’t signed a contract giving away this permission.
Every book will be different.
Because #COVID19 has forced us into extenuating circumstances, some publishers have said that it’s okay w/ them for teachers to record read-alouds of books they hold the audio rights to IF THOSE RECORDINGS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO THEIR STUDENTS. Password protected, not public, etc.
Some authors have gotten permission from their publishers to record videos of themselves reading their own books.
Some of us are still waiting to hear from our publishers.
Some authors have retained this sub-right and have given permission to teachers to record themselves.
Some of us are still waiting to hear from our publishers.
Some authors have retained this sub-right and have given permission to teachers to record themselves.
The point is:
This isn’t a “one size fits all” situation. Everyone is doing their best to answer questions, but publishers are overwhelmed w/ permissions requests. And authors usually can’t grant this permission, b/c they have a contract giving it exclusively to their publisher.
This isn’t a “one size fits all” situation. Everyone is doing their best to answer questions, but publishers are overwhelmed w/ permissions requests. And authors usually can’t grant this permission, b/c they have a contract giving it exclusively to their publisher.
Be patient. Be understanding. Everyone is doing their best.
Meanwhile, lots of amazing kidlit people have come together to put together some great resources. @KateMessner is compiling videos of creators on her site: https://twitter.com/katemessner/status/1239176065358102530?s=21 https://twitter.com/KateMessner/status/1239176065358102530
And @pernilleripp has been compiling videos of picture book read aloud a that don’t infringe on copyright: https://twitter.com/pernilleripp/status/1238853572940517377?s=21 https://twitter.com/pernilleripp/status/1238853572940517377
IF YOU ARE A TEACHER looking for information on how to share a read-aloud of a picture book in a way that it stays private and just for your class, that info is here: https://twitter.com/katemessner/status/1239929052053504003?s=21 https://twitter.com/KateMessner/status/1239929052053504003
Little, Brown has released this statement: https://twitter.com/pacylin/status/1240011234365358080?s=21 https://twitter.com/pacylin/status/1240011234365358080
And here is a thread from @KateMessner with statements from Chronicle, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, and Bloomsbury:
https://twitter.com/katemessner/status/1240008865455931394?s=21 https://twitter.com/KateMessner/status/1240008865455931394
https://twitter.com/katemessner/status/1240008865455931394?s=21 https://twitter.com/KateMessner/status/1240008865455931394
