Constant Content

If an article has been *previously* published, can you still offer unique rights on CC? I know it says that after the fact the buyer can use it exclusively, but if it has sold before, should I take unique/full rights options off the listing? TIA!

Ethically I don't think you could sell exclusive rights to something already published - especially so on a unique license. However, having said that, you could state up front in your intro summary that it was previously published - and if you wanted, give where it was published. Some may not mind especially if it was previously published in a small online website, or a website no longer live, etc. Others would mind a lot, particular if they pay for unique license with the idea of putting their own name on it.

Another way of looking at it would be - if you were submitting it to a traditional print publication, would you be offering it as a first rights, or a reprint.

Katie-Anne

Hi -

If you sold it here at Constant Content as a usage it can still be offered as exclusive or a full rights license. If you sold it else where you can not ask for an exclusive or full rights license.

We display how many times an article has been purchased/downloaded, so it is up to the customer if they want to purchase an exclusive or full rights license to an article that has been purchased before. We can’t keep track of article sold else where this is why we don’t allow it.

As a buyer, the most frustrating thing is to buy unique rights to an article; then finding out a week or month later that it has been posted on other sites before being sold here. Doesn't happen a lot, but I have noticed it. Part of the point of buying "unique" or "full rights" is to ensure that the article does not exist anywhere else (duplicate content).

To add to that... If this does happen we will offer a complete refund and take appropriate action with the writer.