Re: SCIENCE TODAY?

On 23 Feb 1999, Dan L. Burk <burkdanl[_at_]shu.edu> wrote:
>
> On 02/22/99, Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, 17 Feb 1999, Shelly Warwick <swarwick[_at_]sprynet.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm confused. If a work is covered by copyright as soon as its
> > > fixed, then the author, and copyright holder, is whoever is
> > > stated as the author in the fixed form. If this is so, why would
> > > the multiple authors of a scientific paper not each be considered
> > > an author for copyright purposes, unless the copyright was
> > > transferred to someone else, say the publisher where the article
> > > appeared.
> >
> > In science and medicine it is not uncommon for an unnammed
> > writer to prepare an article for presentation. My understanding
> > is that this writer makes no claim on copyright which is
> > normally transferred "as a work made for hire" to the publisher.
>
> 1) Speaking as an author on several scientific articles, I have never
> encountered or heard of such a practice.

     Here is an exerpt from an ad in CBE Views [20:105.1997]

          MEDICAL SCIENCE WRITER

     Eli Lilly and Company is seeking medical writing 
     and editing candidates for therapeutic area
     publications teams. Primary responsibilities 
     include working onsite with multiple project
     teams to plan publication strategies; write,
     edit, and review scientific manuscripts, abstracts,
     and poster presentations; coordinate review and
     approval processes; and coordinate freelance
     writing projects ... bachelor's degree is required ...

> 2) If a writer is a statutory author, copyright vests whether a claim
> is made or not.
>
> 3) If the writer is an employee of the publisher such that the work
> is a work made for hire, there is no transfer; the publisher IS
> the author. If the writer is not an employee, the copyright can
> be transferred but it is NOT a work made for hire (except in a
> situation that probably does not apply here, pursuant to a
> written agreement, when the work falls into certain statutorily
> ennumerated categories).

     If the writer is an employee or a freelance contractor 
     of the researcher, however, I believe the work would be 
     most likely "made for hire." 

Albert Henderson
Editor, PUBLISHING RESEARCH QUARTERLY
<70244.1532[_at_]compuserve.com> Received on Mon Mar 01 1999 - 12:42:40 GMT