Re: Asking for Author Credit In The Documentation?

Subject: Re: Asking for Author Credit In The Documentation?
From: Lee Hunter <lee -dot- hunter -at- hum -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 10:21:35 -0400


Steven Oppenheimer wrote:

If I may say so myself, I have created some pretty sizzling documentation for them. It occurred to me that, since this stuff is going out to other companies, it would help me if I got some credit in the documentation. Now, I have a very good relationship with these people, but there is nothing in my contract which promises me credit. Still, I see no harm in asking. My idea is to have something on the copyright page -- and also, in some suitable spot in the online help -- which reads something like:

Documentation developed by Oppenheimer Communications (www.OpComm.com) and the Staff of SuperNetworkWizards, Inc. [of course we'd use the real company name here]

Again, I see no harm in at least asking, but I was wondering if anyone might be able to anticipate any solid objections they might have.

I suppose there's no harm in asking but if it was my company and I'm paying the writer the going rate for his or her work I would be stunned, to put it mildly, if the writer asked to advertise their company in my product for free and my response would be a flat "no".

If the application already has a spot where members of the development team are named, I would probably be happy put your name there (but not the company name and website!).

My objections:

- Why should I let anyone advertise in my product, in which I've made an enormous investment, without payment?
- What about contract programmers? Do we allow everyone to put a label on their work? ("This dialogue box programmed by Acme Development")
- I want to make my company to look as big and well-rounded as possible. I don't want to give customers the impression that everything was farmed out to a bunch of contractors (even if that was the case).
- The very reason I've hired an expert like you to make such great documentation is to enhance MY reputation and now you want the glory for yourself.

_____________________________________________________

Lee Hunter - Technical Editor & Information Architect

------ http://www.hum.com ------- 613-282-1904 ------
_____________________________________________________

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Asking for Author Credit In The Documentation?: From: Steven Oppenheimer

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