Are there rules for using purchased articles?

For the first time I am considering hiring some freelancers to write some articles for me. I have a few questions for all of you about such arrangements.

1) Once I receive the articles and have paid for them do I have the right to edit them to correct any glaring grammatical mistakes? Can I add links to them?


2) When I post them to a site do I post them as being written by the hired writer, do I assign a fictional name, or do I just leave the name off entirely?


3) What is the normal sequence of events when hiring a writer? Do they provide the articles prior to payment? Do I pay half now and half later, etc.?

My sincere thanks for any comments!
MaestroC

 

It depends on the agreement you had with the writers. For the most part, such materials are "work for hire" and you own the materials. You can sell it, lease it, make derivative works based on it, etc. As long as it is work for hire, you can leave the writer's name off.

However, if these are PLR articles, it depends on the agreement you signed for the content.

As for payment for writing, I am a content provider and I normally ask for 50% upfront and 50% upon completion.

 

As was already said, it's going to depend on the individual agreement with the writer.

For example, I charge drastically different rates for work where I'll be bylined (my name goes on it as the author) versus pieces that are ghostwritten. I also have different rates for people wanting non-exclusive rights versus those that want to purchase full rights. If you buy first rights to an article, it's not the same as buying the full rights (copyright) where you can change whatever you want. If you buy pre-written articles, you may or may not have the right to edit them (although I can't imagine any writer saying you couldn't change simple grammatical problems). How you pay also varies a good bit. I charge up front for some projects. Others take 50% up front. Still other writers let a client pay when the work is completed. You need to hash out all of those details with your writer... there's no hard general rule.

 

and just make sure that you don't have any dupe content...

 

i think it is up to you to push for the terms that you want and see if the writer is willing to deliver on these.