Posted on 07/28/2011 7:36:52 PM PDT by Noumenon
All - Pearson Education, Inc contacted me regarding my 4th of July Tea Party speech. They wish to include it in the following publication:
Program/Title: Speaking in the Public Sphere; Edition: 1; Author(s): Steven Schwarze;
Initial Publication Date: 09/2011 (estimated); Number of Pages: 480 (estimated);
Proposed Price: $60.00 (estimated).
What does anyone know about this outfit? I have my own misgivings, but I'd like to hear from others. I have no intention of having my work demonized or otherwise used in a venue where I will have no say in its use. On the other hand, it may be a chance to reach other minds with what I believe is a vital message. A double edged sword, to be sure. Is it worth the risk?
I don’t know where Pearson stands politically as an organization, but they are a valid textbook co. — much used by schools. I’d go for it since they want to use it. Doesn’t really matter why they want to publish it, does it? Just that they do and like you said, you can reach a lot of minds that way.
At the very least, I would want to know what other content is going into the book. At the very least you should be given a table of contents or an outline of the chapters with maybe some sample pages. Also find out of you retain the copyright to your work to publish elsewhere or if you are signing away rights for a specific time or forever.
They are the largest college textbook publisher. If there is money to be made, they will sniff it out.
I don’t know about their politics. There are more appropriate liberty leaning publishers I’m sure, but none of the magnitude of Pearson.
Pearson is a huge British education/publishing company.
I would ask what other kind of speeches are included in the book. Is it predominantly atheist/socialist or is it balanced?
Territory: WorldLanguages: All
In print versions of the Program/Title and derivatives (e.g., translations, abridgements, split editions, brief editions, English language adaptations, and custom versions for use by a particular school or instructor).
In non-print media versions and derivatives of the Program/Title (e.g., translations, abridgements, split editions, brief editions, English language adaptations, and custom versions for use by a particular school or instructor.) in all formats and methods of delivery (e.g., eBooks, online or download through browser or other application, or tangible versions, such as optical disks). In accessible versions (e.g., Braille) for use by individuals with disabilities that impede their use of the standard versions.
In some versions, we may re-use only parts of the Program/Title, such as an individual chapter, alone or together with content from other works. In all cases, we will continue to use your Selections in the same context. Our request also includes the right to display the Selections in context for purposes of promoting the Program/Title.
Full credit will be given to the source you identify. Please indicate your agreement by signing and returning this letter to Jennifer Kennett. If you are not authorized to grant any or all of these rights, I would appreciate your letting me know the person we should contact to request the rights.
In the event that use of a Selection by Pearson or its affiliates exceeds this license granted to Pearson, or any other terms or obligations between Pearson and you, Pearson’s sole obligation to you and the rights holder shall be to pay for such additional use or uses in accordance your or the rights holder’s standard fees for such use, and the terms and conditions of this Permission Request and License shall apply to such additional uses.
It's a chance to reach a lot of people, I think, but I do not want to damage the cause of liberty. I should be fearless about this and just do it.
Congratulations. I believe they publish the London Financial Times. They also handle a lot of the tests for professional licensing here in the States.
I used to work for them back in the 70s. They are an old an established education company with divisions that do testing (they invented the number 2 pencil test form), online courses, etc.
Very conservative.
It might be used as an example in a radical left loonies course package to pick apart the conservatives or the tea party.
I would want to see the whole enchilada before saying yes.
Have you looked into Steven Schwartz?
Any chance to share your views and reach a wider audience should be accepted.
That’s... never going to happen.
I’m a freelancer.
1. You ain’t going to see it before it goes to print
2. You don’t have any say in how it’s used once you sell it
3. You get it back after x amount of time
4. Do you want the money or don’t you?
Just the way it is, man. Put it in your clips and on to the next one.
They’re an academic publisher. They will demand you sign over the rights to your speech, and will then narrowly interpret fair use to demand royalties from anyone who quotes it. Academic publishers are the scum of the earth. If all enterprises functioned on the business model of academic publishers, Marx’s critique of capitalism would have been correct.
Read the copyright agreement they give you, and refuse to sign it unless you retain all rights to your speech and are only granting them permission to publish it, not exclusive rights to publish it or any other rights. If they really want it, they will back down and let you retain your rights.
I have worked with them with stock photography and have been pleased with the result. At one point the time limit on a photo rental expired and I was unaware of this. They contacted me directly, asked if they could cut me a check and that was the end of it. Payment made.
The people were always very professional and polite.
You beat me to it. Same with college publications. The colleges own the rights to anything they publish and you will never see a cent.
Never sign over the rights to your work. All they need is is your permission to publish and you are then entitled to royalties. If they refuse, do NOT sign anything. If you do this, no one else will be able to publish without THEIR permission, including you.
World of Poetry does something like this. They own your work, And they appeal to your vanity to try and get you and your family and friends to pay for the overpriced publication just because you are in it. It is quite the scam.
Congrats on the offer. As a writer & speaker, I have been faced with somewhat similar propositions — short of “selling your” soul to make a buck (however one defines that cliche), we have to put milk in the fridge and bread on the table (and “bread” in the bank).
Ask questions, read the fine print, and proceed cautiously but not fearfully. Like you said: “I should be fearless about this and just do it.”
Well put. Now go for it.
Ping to #15.
My advice is to judge the deal on its financial merits only.
I manage a college bookstore. Pearson is one of the biggest textbook publishers, and a reputable company. Looks to me like Steven Schwarze is a professor putting together a custom textbook on public speaking and wants to include your speech. You might contact him at U of Montana to find out his intentions.
http://www.cas.umt.edu/dcs/Faculty/schwarze/steves.htm
Thanks - I did just that. Sent him an email. We’ll see...
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