Published Work

18^th March - I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from a major publishing company (hereinafter referred to as MPC) asking for permission to use one of the many photos I've uploaded to Flickr. They want to use it for an elementary school science publication. The picture is of the Armstrong Air And Space Museum, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, taken back in 2009, and in recent times they have been struggling for funding.

The email requested a prompt response, tight deadline, can we send you a form for licensing, etc. etc. and I sent back a positive reply to see what the deal was. I received a form back to sign the image rights over for complimentary use. Hmm. Well I'm not planning on trying to get rich as a photographer and this place is struggling. Let's ask MPC to send a donation of $100 to the museum in return for me licensing the photo then? But before that let's have a quick look at their corporate website and see. Some useful pointers there about corporate responsibility and responsible business practices. So here's my response:

Thanks for the form. I note that this is for "Complimentary Use" of my work.

MPC are a company listed on the NY stock exchange. Part of your corporate responsibility statement says

"Our company's mission is to provide essential information and insight that help individuals, markets and societies perform to their potential. In support of that mission, we are committed to responsible business practices that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the communities where we work and live." (link to relevant page on website)

So in the circumstances I feel obliged to ask that if you wish to license the image that you give me an undertaking that MPC will make a donation of the sum of $100 (in my name) to the Armstrong Air and Space museum. The museum is currently in dire financial straits and is an important part of the nation's historical heritage and a valuable educational resource.

If you are not empowered to make this decision then please could you forward this email to somebody in your organization who is.

Best Regards,

Nick

A second email followed, this time with a pro-forma for paid usage. I still wasn't happy as the researcher suggested once I've received payment then I can send it on to the museum. As I'm in the UK, this is going to be rather a protracted process. They're in Columbus, OH, 90 miles away from the museum. Why can't they just send them the $$$?

So I followed this up with a phone call to their Corporate Contributions Manager HQ in New York, and... Oh I can't seem to get past the voice mail. So I left a message - and she did return my call and was very positive about the issue. Later that afternoon, a third email from the researcher in Columbus with the solution and an undertaking that if I sign the complimentary use form then they will send payment to the museum (although the museum have to sign the paid-usage pro-forma).

I think I'm winning here. On 4^th April I received confirmation from the lady at MPC that they had received the signed form from the museum and that they would be sending them the $100 donation. MPC expect to sell 100,000 copies of the book, so that's one-tenth of a cent per book!

As for me - I asked for a complimentary copy of the book. Printed, of course. I shall pass this on to grand-daughter #1.