NY Times Settles Freelance Writer Lawsuit - How to get paid as a freelance writer!

Submitted by Patrick Grote on Sun, 04/17/2005 - 2:40pm.

Writing is passion for many of us. I've written several books in the past and would like to do it again. There is something about the writing process that adds to the human experience.

Prior to writing books I authored many articles on a freelance basis. If you were an editor and needed an article I was your man. Many times I didn't look at the contract I was signing, but the freelance writers for the NY Times did.

The freelancers found that the NY Times was taking their work and using it in ways that weren't covered by their contracts. Specifically, the NY Times was using their work online and in database compilations.

While $18 million sounds like a ton of money the settlement breaks out to $1500 per copyrighted article and $60 per non-copyrighted article.

Good win for those who craft with the written word.