Revised: 2007-09-12

These are some things to remember when negotiating rates for crosswords. And please send us your accounts of successful negotiations.

• Crosswords are copyright works. Compilers should expect to be paid for each edition they are published in - which means granting a limited licence, for example for one edition of one newspaper.
• Since most crosswords do not go out of date, the potential for abuse is significant and assignment of rights to a work that could be used in puzzle books in twenty years' time would be foolish.
• Each extra use licensed - for example in other newspapers in the same group - should attract an extra fee.
• The rates are suggested as minima from which freelance compilers will negotiate upward according to their experience, wit and specialist knowledge.
• Freelances who are registered for VAT will add it to every invoice.

We would much appreciate hearing from compilers of more rates actually paid. Two tow a Yukon hod (3, 4, 4, 2, 2).

Generally useful links: