Once you write something, whether it’s a piece of journalism, a guide or a book, you become the copyright owner of that work.
So why does this matter? It matters because you are now the owner of a creative asset. And you can license that work to others.
What is copyright?
‘Very simply, copyright is the protection of an original work,’ says Stephen Conmy, founder of Contenseo, ‘and content licensing is when someone gets permission to re-use that work. Usually there is a fee involved.’
Copyright law grants creators the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and display their original work, such as articles, photographs, music, and other works.
As more and more writers and creators are no longer producing work exclusively for one publisher, the opportunity to license their work has increased significantly.
The wide, rich world of content licensing
Making your work available to license gives you access to more revenue, a wider audience, the protection of your intellectual property, and the chance to collaborate with potential new clients.
‘Content licensing allows creators to share their work with a broader audience, increasing visibility and reach,’ says Conmy.
Licensing agreements can help protect intellectual property rights, ensuring that creators receive fair compensation for their work.
Content licensing creates more money for writers
Quality writing that has mass appeal is the type of writing that gets licensed the most.
Most great commercial writing is, at its heart, investigative journalism. “By investigative journalism, I don’t just mean crime reporting,” says Conmy. “Investigative journalism involves a journalist or a group of journalists working on a story to extract as many verified details as possible. It’s about research, interviewing people, and analysing any evidence and content around the story.”
Copyright and licensing agreements can protect a writer’s investigative work, ensuring that their research and findings are not misused or exploited, particularly by AI companies that may just take the work to train their models without the writer’s permission.
Along with protecting their copyrights and their research, by making their work available to license, journalists can generate revenue through syndication.
Licensing agreements can also help journalists reach a broader audience, increasing the impact of their work.
And then there is the issue of protecting sources. Journalists can use copyright and licensing agreements to protect the identities of their sources, ensuring their safety and security.
How to start licensing your content
“Contenseo is an abbreviation of ‘Content Licensing Software’, we help creators license their content,” says Conmy.
All you have to do is open a Contenseo account – the ‘Licensing as a Service’ model. You will then be able to upload your work. All you need is the URL of the webpage on which the work was originally published.
When you have registered your work, you can then get access to Contenseo’s licensing agreements to protect your intellectual property and ensure fair compensation for your work.
And remember, Contenseo offers you the opportunity to collaborate with other publishers and creators, helping to build a community and promote a culture of creativity and innovation.
In short, by becoming a member of Contenseo, you will learn how to use copyright and content licensing, protect your intellectual property, generate revenue, and share your work with a wider audience.
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