Who owns your contacts book?

Snickers Man

Skimming through the current issue of The Journalist I came across a disqueiting story about a journalist and his bruising encounter with the High Court in London. Click here for the UK Press Gazette's report on it.

It would appear that this guy's former employers took umbrage at the fact that he had exported his Outlook contact's list, to which he had added his own contacts built up over the years, to a spreadsheet file when he left. They insisted that he hand them back.

He took the view that part of what he was paid for when he joined the company was his contacts made while working elsewhere and that his future employer, which in this case was effectively himself, should also benefit in like form.

The court disagreed with the judge saying: "Such a list might, in another age, be maintained by his secretary and would undoubtedly have been the property of [his employer]"

Ah yes, the days when journalists had secretaries. Don't remember them myself.

Still, a cautionary note for anybody combining their contacts list with that of a new employer. Careful how you go.

monument

Interesting, I missed that story in the Journalist.

It really sounds as if the journalistic importance to not just have "key contacts" but the "the widest possible list of contacts” was not put across to the judge, or it just was not getting in.

As for secretaries :rolleyes:

kittex

That's ridiculous.
I used to work as a journo in the UK, but left the profession to teach. I took my contacts with me and no way would I consider it my employer's property. You build it up over time on both freelance and staff contracts and for one employer to say all your previous work is theirs is utterly unfair.

I remember the stories about journos who had secretaries, but it seems that only ever happened in the BBC and was done away with in the early 80's.
Many places back then apparently used to ask for prospective interviewees to bring their contacts book with them to interview. it was the main focal point of what you were hiring/buying.

I hope this guy appeals if he can.

flogen

It seems like a very petty act by his former employer as a list of contacts is only of marginal use to anyone other than the owner.

For example I'd have a few mobile phone numbers of important people which I picked up here and there but never directly from them - therefore I don't consider them my "contacts" so to speak, just people I can make contact with. If I rang one today and asked for information they'd either ask me who I was or tell me where to go because I don't (yet!) have a relationship with them where they'd be willing to tell me things their not supposed to.

The relationship a journalist has with a person is the critical factor in having a contact, not their ability to contact them directly.