At 11:03 AM 4/15/2006, you wrote: >I made an assumption based upon Richard's original post--which stated: > >"You give a lecture at a genealogy convention and, with your approval, it is >taped (either audio or video). > >Absent any specific contract point on this, who owns the copyright - the >person who gave the lecture or the person who taped it?" > >...From the above I figurerd there IS a written contract and perhaps I'm >assuming too much "Contacts" can be verbal or written :) A verbal contact (permission given orally) can only transfer nonexclusive rights to distribute. The speaker would retain copyright to the speech itself, assuming it was not a work for hire or s/he was not a government employee where the speech would immediately be public domain. The speaker would also retain all other rights to distribute as part of the exclusive rights included in their copyright. They could even prepare and distribute a competing recording. Think of a news reporter who video tapes a news conference or seminar. The speaker has invited the media to record and report the event (given permission) The speaker retains copyright to his speech. The news reporter/agency holds the copyright to the video tape and can distribute it. However, the speaker can also sell/distribute recordings of his speech/seminar. If the recorder wants exclusive rights to distribute recordings of the speech, he must obtain that exclusive right from the copyright holder in writing. Pat