Haymarket cheque check

We hear that publishers Haymarket are sending out cheques that claim you have to sign the back to cash them, and that you thus cede All Rights in your work. This is false. Since the Bills of Exchange Act 1882, at least, it has been illegal for a cheque to purport to do anything except increase the payee's bank balance. (A cheque is defined as "An unconditional order in writing".) If you receive one of these, please contact the Freelance Office. In fact, please do so if you do any work for Haymarket - we're trying to put together a network.