Contributor terms
What we expect from contributors, and what they can expect from us. The full commercial terms sit in the signed agreement — the editorial standards are public, because they should be.
This page sets out the editorial and conduct terms that apply to every contributor. Rights, licence scope, commission rates, payment terms and notice periods are settled individually in a signed agreement and are not published here.
1. Status
Contributors are independent contributors unless a separate written agreement says otherwise. The specific relationship, and its tax and employment position, is set out in that agreement.
2. Rights and licence
Contributors grant us the agreed licence to edit, publish, distribute, promote, archive and create format derivatives of accepted work. Whether that licence is exclusive, the territory and the duration are specified in the signed agreement, as is whether copyright is retained or assigned.
3. Originality and permissions
Contributors warrant that submitted work is original or properly licensed, does not knowingly infringe third-party rights, and discloses material use of third-party or confidential material.
4. Editorial control
We may edit, headline, illustrate, fact-check, decline or remove work consistent with our editorial standards.
5. Conflicts and commercial content
Contributors disclose relevant financial and commercial interests. Paid or sponsored work is labelled. Contributors may participate in disclosed commercial incentive arrangements, but compensation never determines an editorial recommendation or ranking — see our advertising policy.
6. Commission
Where a contributor originates a credited Partner Editorial sale, or is formally assigned ownership of an affiliate page, a commission share applies from the assignment date. The rates, netting rules and treatment of reversals are set out in the signed commercial terms. Fully automated pages carry no writer share until they are assigned to a named writer.
7. Conduct
8. Governing law
England and Wales.
Pitching
We commission practitioners rather than professional commentators. If you want to write for us, use the contact form and choose “Contributing or pitching”.
