Trade Union News from Finland

(01.05.2009) Finland’s leading newsprint publisher, Sanoma News, is currently demanding that its freelancers sign a contribution agreement drafted unilaterally by Sanoma News.

Sanoma News has announced that it will not enter into negotiations nor will it pay any additional compensation for a broader transfer of copyright. The message is clear: if you don’t sign and accept the terms and conditions, you won’t get work.

Freelancers’ earnings come, however, precisely from the sale of the copyright to articles, photographs and graphic work to different customers. If this right is lost, then the freelancers also lose the possibility to earn income from the original creative materials.

Sanoma News has referred to standard practice in the field with regard to its demands for full economic rights. Sanoma News is incorrect in its reference. Even within Sanoma Group, for example, Sanoma Magazines does not demand full rights. In most cases, the freelancers transfer only the rights to the first or a single publication, or the free right of use. This enables the freelancers to retain their own economic rights.

In accordance with the business practice prevalent in the field, the broader transfer of rights should translate into higher fees. This is where Sanoma News departs from general practice in the field.

The operations of Sanoma News include the publication of Helsingin Sanomat, Ilta-Sanomat, Taloussanomat, Metro and several regional, local and free newspapers. In accordance with the agreement, these rights would not entitle one to additional compensation from any of the companies within the entire Sanoma Group. The Group operates in 20 countries, publishes more than 300 different newspapers and periodicals, and also includes a TV channel, cable television channels, book publishers, a picture agency, radio channels and online and gaming services. Furthermore, Sanoma News wants the unrestricted right to sell the freelancer’s work outside of the Group – without having to pay compensation to the freelancer.

Freelancers must continue to retain the rights to the materials that they create, otherwise freelancers will find it impossible to make a living. The agreements would also constitute a threat to the freedom of speech if Finland’s largest media giant were to hold the perpetual exclusive rights to a significant percentage of the journalistic work, art critiques, graphic arts and photography published in Finland. It would enable it to decide how, where and under what terms a freelancer’s work could be used and by whom it would be used.

Freelancers should also be able to tell to those being interviewed and photographed, where and when the interview or photo in question will be published. If all rights are transferred, this will no longer be possible. In accordance with the agreement, however, any damages claimed by a third party, legal fees and other expenses that stem from possible rights-related or other issues would be assumed by the freelancer.

The freelancers respond with a DECIDED NO to the idea of a unilaterally drafted agreement and would like to sit down with Sanoma News to negotiate in the name of fair play and support of Finnish labour.

The undersigned organisations will collect proxies from all those freelancers who have done work for Sanoma News for the purpose of negotiations. Altogether 430 proxies have already been obtained.

Additionally, everyone is welcome to take a position and participate in the online petition opposing the agreement proposed by Sanoma News, at www.adressit.com/freentekijanoikeus.

More than 3,700 individuals have signed the petition in favour of freelance work and objective terms and conditions of employment.