Inc. We look forward to further developments in this area. An author should always sell intellectual property rights by written agreement. However, in the case of a journalist who chooses to sell rights to a publisher via an oral agreement, it should be assumed by all parties that in the absence of a specific written agreement, the writer is granting One-Time North American Print Publication Rights only. Note that most book contracts signed today explicitly deal with electronic distribution rights, but most articles are still sold without explicit understandings on such rights. Like translation rights or dramatic rights, electronic rights may be divided into separate sub-categories.
Electronic rights are separate and distinct from all other rights.
In addition, electronic rights may be sold on a non-exclusive basis. None of these electronic distribution rights is automatically included in the purchase of another right. Data carriers and networks should determine whether a vendor of intellectual property has the legal right to sell it before allowing the vendor to use the carrier's links and networks. The carrier should at least require each vendor to sign a statement that the vendor has that legal right. A data carrier should also be legally required to prevent its links and networks from being used for the illegal sale of intellectual property.