The European Federation of

Journalists (EFJ) today condemned the German publishing

company Bauer Media Group for imposing " anti- authors' rights " contracts on

freelance journalists and photographers in the UK.

"Once again, Bauer is attempting to exploit

loopholes in UK copyright law by using unfair contracts to strip away authors' rights of

journalists," said EFJ President Arne

König.

The EFJ

has learned that 200 freelance journalists and

photographers working at Bauer's music magazines Kerrang!,Mojo and Q were given an ultimatum to sign away all their rights by 16 April 2010.

The EFJ

says these contracts require freelances to give ‘an exclusive,

irrevocable and unconditional' right to Bauer for multiple use of their work worldwide without

further payment. Bauer threatens to stop commissioning freelances who

refuse to sign the new contracts.

"These unfair contracts would seriously undermine

both the livelihood of journalists and standards in the media. They would allow Bauer to modify journalists'

work at will. Yet journalists would face the legal consequences for the use of

their work," said

König.  

As part of their

campaign against unfair contracts, the EFJ will send a letter to the Bauer media

Group and demand Bauer put an end to the right-grabbing contracts

immediately and renew talks with journalists to negotiate fair contracts.

For more information contact the EFJ at

  +32 2 235 2215   

   
The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists

in over 30 European countries