The copyright to all photographs and stories published in the Richland Chronicle and decoy print and web publications belongs solely to the Richland Chronicle and/or decoy.
The copyright to all photographs, designs and stories developed using Richland Chronicle resources (including but not limited to film, paper, computers, paid student assistant hours, technology) belong solely to the Richland Chronicle.
As Richland Chronicle budget funds are used to pay for technology, supplies and student assistant hours, all images produced and/or stored on Richland Chronicle-owned cameras, film, negatives, floppy disks, zip disks and hard drives, etc. are property of the Richland Chronicle. All stories written and/or stored on Richland Chronicle computers, floppy disks, zip disks and hard drives, etc., are property of the Richland Chronicle. All notes taken by Richland Chronicle staff members for possible Richland Chronicle stories are property of the Richland Chronicle.
The purpose of this policy is to reduce potential liability of paid and unpaid Chronicle staff. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. There is legal precedent protecting the press in general and college press in particular from subpoena of notes, photographs, stories, etc. There is no legal precedent or DCCCD-sponsored legal counsel retained for the protection of the individual student from subpoena of notes, photographs, stories, etc. to which he/she owns the copyright.
In the event that another publication (newspaper, etc.) or individual party wishes to purchase a Richland Chronicle story or image for their own use, the faculty adviser must be consulted. The Richland Chronicle is not in any way opposed to any member of its staff deriving income from Richland Chronicle-related work that another newspaper or magazine wishes to publish. However, due to the many legal issues involved, the faculty adviser must always be consulted.
As the official student newspaper of Richland College, we retain legal counsel from the DCCCD attorneys. Individual students, however, if they hold copyright on photos, stories, notes, etc., surrender that legal counsel and would be responsible for their own legal representation in a court of law.
If a photographer wishes to retain copyright on photos that he or she takes, then he or she must use his or her own film and pay for all processing fees for that film. Student Publications assumes no responsibility for any legal ramifications associated with any photographs for which it does not own the copyright.
NEVER TURN OVER ANY NOTES, PHOTOGRPAHS, IMAGES, GRAPHICS, STORIES, ETC. TO A THIRD PARTY FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE ADVISER. THE COPYRIGHT TO ALL PHOTOS, NEGATIVES, IMAGES, NOTES, AND STORIES, ETC. ARE OWNED SOLELY BY THE RICHLAND CHRONICLE.
