“Help, an editor has stolen my idea!”

NOOOOOOO. Stop right there.
What a coincidence, your idea about a calendar for crafts activities has been nicked by a major publishing house? What nonsense!
You can guarantee that the day Victoria Beckham gives a nod to her latest thoughts on health or family, there’ll be plenty of writers – staff and freelance – who’ll be attempting to sell in a piece on “ordinary” women with the same concerns. Except of course, they’ll call them a “case study.”

Read this and remember it, pin it up on your fridge (or your computer monitor may be a better idea, sorry) if you like: There is no copyright on ideas.
If you do happen to spot a feature in a magazine or newspaper that you reckon looks “similar” to something you suggested, then either congratulate yourself on having the right sorts of thought processes or have a word with yourself about being too obvious.
But don’t spend a minute stressing over what might have been.
Who says they weren’t already working on the piece before you came along? Who says another freelance didn’t suggest the same idea, and they are someone who already has an “in” with the editor.
Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. And no, I’m not saying that because I’ve nicked anyone’s ideas!
There’s a great guide to “10 things every freelance should know about copyright” available through the National Union of Journalists.

Comments

[Louise Bolotin]

I'd just like to add that when you do pitch an idea, don'[t give away all the clues as to who the case studies are and make sure you pitch in such a way that you convince the commissioning ed you are the only person in the world qualified to write the story up.