Re: permission for keeping writing samples

[Win Day <winday -at- IDIRECT -dot- COM>]

At 04:57 PM 2/14/96 -0500, Brad Barnes wrote:
>What is the generally accepted practice on whether or not you obtain
explicit permission from your employer to permit you to keep a copy of your
work for use in your portfolio?

>I have *heard* that employers automatically understand and assume that
writers will always be able to put aside writing samples for portfolio
purposes--without explicit permission.

>In practice, do any of you always *formally* make requests for copies of
your own work? Or do you just go ahead and retain your own copies? Afterall,
the work you produce belongs to the party who has paid for it, be it your
employer or your employer's customer, right?



There's a difference between being able to KEEP a copy of something I
produce, and being able to DISPLAY it.

My clients know I will always keep a copy of whatever I produce for them.
For one thing, having a copy around helps me the next time I want to produce
something similar.

My clients also know that I will NEVER EVER display anything I've produced
without their EXPRESS WRITTEN consent.  Much of what I work on is
proprietary, and I've signed all kinds of secrecy agreements.  I CANNOT show
that material to other prospective clients.

Win
--------------
Win Day
Technical Writer/Editor
Email: winday -at- idirect -dot- com