[From John A. Neuenschwander, A Guide to Oral History and the Law (2003)]
I, [name of interviewee] of [address], herein permanently give, convey, and assign to [name of archive, program or individual], which is currently in possession of my interview (or oral memoir) consisting of [description]. In so doing I understand that my interview (or oral memoir) will be made available to researchers and may be quoted from, published or broadcast in any medium that the [archive, program or individual] shall deem appropriate.
In making this gift I fully understand that I am conveying all legal title and literary property rights which I have or may be deemed to have in my interview (or oral memoir) as well as my rights, title and interest in any copyright which may be secured under the laws now or later in force and effect in the United States of America. My conveyance of copyright encompasses the exclusive rights of: reproduction, distribution, preparation of derivative works, public performance, public display as well as all renewals and extensions.
I, [agent for the duly appointed representative of] accept the interview (or oral memoir) of [name of interviewee] for inclusion into the [archive or program].
| ___________________ | ___________________ |
| Signature of Donor | Signature of Agent/Representative |
| _____________________________ | |
| Date |
[From John Neuenschwander, A Guide to Oral History and the Law (2009)]
In accordance with the willing participation of [name of interviewee] in the [name of oral history project or program] on [date], in which he/she voluntarily gave to the [name of receiving group or individual] an interview (or oral memoir) in the form of [number of tapes or transcripts], I/we, [names] as legal heir or heirs, herein do permanently give, convey and assign same to [name of archive, program, or interviewer]. In doing so, I/we understand that [name of interviewee]’s interview (or oral memoir) will be made available to researchers and may be quoted from, published and broadcast in any medium that [the archive, program or individual] shall deem appropriate.
I/we further acknowledge in making this gift that I/we are conveying all legal title and literary property rights which I/we as heir/heirs to [name of interviewee]’s interview (or oral memoir) as well as all rights, title, and interest in any copyright which may be secured now or under the laws later in force and effect in the United States of America. My/our conveyance of copyright encompasses the exclusive rights of reproduction, distribution, preparation of derivative works, public performances, public display as well as all renewals and extensions.
I, [name], agent for or duly appointed representative of [the archive, program or individual], accept the interview (or oral memoir) with [name of interviewee] for inclusion into the [archive or program].
| ___________________ | ___________________ |
| Signature of Agent/Representative | Signature of Heir/Heirs |
| _____________________________ | |
| Date |
[From John Neuenschwander, A Guide to Oral History and the Law, 2009]
I, [name of interviewer], who served as an interviewer for the [name of project or sponsoring program or archive] and who conducted an interview or interviews with [name of interviewee] on or about [date] for which no legal releases were executed, do herein permanently give, convey and assign to [name of program or archive]. In doing so I understand that the interview (or oral memoir) with [name of interviewee] will be made available to researchers and may be quoted from, published or broadcast in any medium that the [name of program or archive] shall deem appropriate.
In making this gift I fully understand that I am conveying all legal title and literary property rights which I have or may be deemed to have in this interview or interviews (or oral memoir) as well as all my right, title and interest as joint author in any copyright which may be secured under the laws now or later in force and effect in the United States of America. My conveyance of copyright encompasses the exclusive rights of reproduction, distribution, preparation of derivative works, public performance, public display as well as all renewals and extensions.
I, [name], agent for or duly appointed representative of [the archive or program], accept the interview (or oral memoir) with [name of interviewee] for inclusion into [the archive or program].
| ___________________ | ___________________ |
| Signature of Interviewer | Signature of Agent/Representative |
| _____________________________ | |
| Date |
[Senate Historical Office]
I, [name of interviewee], do hereby give to the [archives or organization] the recordings and transcripts of my interviews conducted on [dates].
I authorize the [archives or organization] to use the recordings and transcripts in such a manner as may best serve the educational and historical objectives of their oral history program.
In making this gift, I voluntarily convey ownership of the recordings and transcripts to the public domain.
| ___________________ | ___________________ |
| Agent of Receiving Organization | Donor |
| _____________________________ | _____________________________ |
| Date | Date |
[From Glenn Whitmann, Dialogue with the Past: Engagin Students & Meeting Standards Through Oral History (2004)]
I, [name of interviewee], hereby give and grant to [name of school] the absolute and unqualified right to the use of my oral history memoir conducted by [name of interviewer] on [dates]. I understand that the purpose of this project is to collect audio- and video-taped oral histories of firsthand memories of a particular period or event in history as part of the [name of project, if any].
I understand that these interviews (tapes and transcripts) will be deposited in the [name of school] library and archives for the use of future students, educators, and researchers. Responsibility for reproduction, distribution, display, and the creation of derivative works will be at the discretion of the librarian, archivist, and/or project coordinator. I also understand that the tapes and transcripts may be used in public presentations including, but not limited to, audio and visual documentaries, slide-tape presentations, exhibits, articles, public performance, or presentation on the World Wide Web at the project’s website, or successor technologies.
In making this contract, I understand that I am conveying to the [name of school] library and archives all legal title and literary property rights that I have or may be deemed to have in my interview as well as my right, title, and interest in any copyright related to this oral history interview that may be secured under the laws now or later in force and effect in the United States of America. This gift, however, does not preclude any use that I myself want to make of the information in these transcripts and recordings.
I herein warrant that I have not assigned or in any manner encumbered or impaired any of the aforementioned rights in my oral memoir. The only conditions that I place on this unrestricted gift are:
1. ___________
2. ___________
3. ___________