Fairfax is asking its photographic and editorial contributors to sign copyright agreements that take away their copyright and moral rights. These contracts deprive Fairfax contributors from just compensation and seriously challenge the integrity and authenticity of their works. This petition asks Fairfax to withdraw its latest editorial and photographic contributor copyright agreements and start negotiating with its contributors on a fair and equitable basis. All online petitioners will remain anonymous until the list is presented to the management of Fairfax. Click here to sign the petition. A list of FAQs for contributors follows.

FAQs for Fairfax copyright contract for contributors

Q. What happens if I submit a story to Fairfax and ignore the copyright agreement?
A. There could be an implied non-exclusive licence on behalf of Fairfax to use your work online and its other publications. This wouldn’t be an assignment (complete sale of all your rights) nor an exclusive licence (only Fairfax can use your rights) because they must be agreed in writing. If you don’t wish to sign the contract you may want to state at the back of your story that you only grant Fairfax the right to publish your work in, say the SMH, or the Age, online... If Fairfax publishes your work then, these conditions are binding on Fairfax. It is crucial to make the terms under which you submit your work very clear.

Q. What happens when my work is published but Fairfax refuses to pay me unless I sign the copyright agreement?
A. It is unreasonable for Fairfax to withhold payment while they have published your work. You are therefore allowed to ask Fairfax to take down the material unless you receive payment for the work that you did.

Q. What happens if the FFX contract is taken down? Would those who have already signed it be bound by it?
A. The contract would need to be terminated and this would involve some more negotiations and then a new contract would need to be negotiated.