CSP Industry Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the NSA Code of Professional Ethics, what must a CSP do when they realize a speaking topic overlaps significantly with another speaker's proprietary content?
- Proceed without disclosure since ideas cannot be copyrighted
- Disclose the overlap to the event organizer and obtain permission or attribute properly (Correct answer)
- Simply change the title of the presentation
- Report the other speaker to the NSA ethics committee
Correct answer: Disclose the overlap to the event organizer and obtain permission or attribute properly
The NSA Code requires members to respect intellectual property and disclose potential conflicts, securing permission or providing attribution when content overlaps with another's proprietary work.
Question 2: Which federal law primarily governs the accessibility requirements that professional speakers must consider when delivering virtual or hybrid presentations?
- The Sherman Antitrust Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Correct answer)
- The Lanham Act
- The Federal Trade Commission Act
Correct answer: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA requires that presentations in public accommodations, including virtual events hosted by covered entities, be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Question 3: A CSP is hired to speak at a conference and later learns the organizer plans to sell recordings without additional compensation. What does industry standard practice recommend?
- Accept the arrangement since the speaking fee covers all uses
- Negotiate recording rights and additional compensation in the original contract (Correct answer)
- Threaten legal action immediately
- Refuse to speak at future events for that organizer
Correct answer: Negotiate recording rights and additional compensation in the original contract
Industry best practice is to address recording, distribution, and licensing rights explicitly in the speaking contract before the engagement.
Question 4: What is the NSA's position on a member speaker accepting a paid testimonial from a product company without disclosure to audiences?
- It is permitted as long as the fee is under $500
- It is acceptable for international engagements only
- It violates ethical standards and FTC endorsement guidelines requiring disclosure (Correct answer)
- It is allowed if the speaker genuinely believes in the product
Correct answer: It violates ethical standards and FTC endorsement guidelines requiring disclosure
Both NSA ethics and FTC regulations require speakers to disclose material connections, including payment, when endorsing products or services.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'speaker exclusivity' as it applies to industry regulations?
- A requirement that speakers only work with one bureau at a time
- A contractual clause preventing a speaker from appearing for competing organizations within a defined scope and time (Correct answer)
- An NSA membership tier reserved for top-earning speakers
- A rule prohibiting speakers from recording their own presentations
Correct answer: A contractual clause preventing a speaker from appearing for competing organizations within a defined scope and time
Exclusivity clauses restrict a speaker from performing for competitors or in certain markets for a specified period, and must be clearly defined in contracts.
Question 6: When a speaking bureau represents a CSP, what regulatory principle governs the bureau's duty to the speaker regarding fee transparency?
- Bureaus have no obligation to disclose their commission percentage
- Speakers are entitled to know the gross fee paid by the client and the bureau's commission structure (Correct answer)
- Bureaus may mark up fees without limit as long as speakers receive their requested net fee
- NSA prohibits all fee negotiations through third-party bureaus
Correct answer: Speakers are entitled to know the gross fee paid by the client and the bureau's commission structure
Ethical bureau relationships require transparency about gross client fees and commission structures, enabling speakers to make informed decisions about representation.
Question 7: A professional speaker wants to use a brief clip from a popular film in a keynote. Under US copyright law, which doctrine might protect this use?
- Work for hire doctrine
- Fair use doctrine (Correct answer)
- First sale doctrine
- Public domain exemption
Correct answer: Fair use doctrine
Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material for commentary, criticism, education, or transformative purposes, though speakers should assess all four fair use factors.
CSP Industry Regulations 2
Under the NSA Code of Professional Ethics, what must a CSP do when they realize a speaking topic overlaps significantly with another speaker's proprietary content?