Newsletter Editors Ask

  1. The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of Service are part of our program and belong to the fellowship. They may be reprinted in newsletters and in meeting schedules without WSO’s specific written permission. Credit (attribution) should be given as follows: “Reprinted with permission of Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.”
  2. If the Twelve Steps, Traditions, or Concepts of Service are to be included on any item printed by a group, District, or Area that will be sold, written permission is needed. Alcoholics Anonymous holds the copyright on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions; you will need to first secure permission in writing from A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous, P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 or aa.org) to use the Steps or Traditions. Once you have obtained A.A.’s permission, send a copy with your request to use Al‑Anon’s Steps or Traditions to the Al‑Anon WSO. To use the Twelve Concepts of Service, you must request permission from the Al‑Anon WSO.

In either case, it is necessary to note proper credit—this ensures that individuals who are not in the fellowship are alerted that the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts of Service are copyrighted.

Yes, there are two different forms currently used by the WSO for reprint authorization—one for use by Al‑Anon service arms in Al‑Anon publications and one for publications outside of Al‑Anon. Please send a completed copy of the appropriate form, along with your proposed use of the Al‑Anon material, to the WSO for review. Please allow at least two weeks for reply.

We find that many quotations are not duplicated exactly as they have been published. We must see your proposed text so that we can confirm the quotation and review the context in which it is to be used.

For legal requirements. It is necessary for us to be able to prove at all times that we are actively protecting and monitoring our copyrights. This protects our corporate interests if we should become involved in a copyright infringement conflict.

AFG Inc. registers our trademark and copyrights with the US and Canadian governments. Some General Service Offices have been authorized to secure copyrights in their specific countries with WSO permission. Please write or call the WSO if you need more specific information.

No. Order forms, guidelines and certain service pieces may be used in your service materials without permission. If in doubt, ask.

The Serenity Prayer and the slogans are in the public domain and do not require reprint permission. However, excerpts of CAL about the Serenity Prayer and the slogans do require written permission.

Generally, in recognition of the group conscience decision to discontinue a piece of literature, the WSO does not give permission to reprint that literature.

Yes, you can reprint articles from these WSO newsletters without obtaining written permission. Please include proper attribution: “From (identify the publication), copyright 20__, by Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.”

The policy for quoting or reprinting from The Forum is the same as for our literature. Generally, quotations are limited to no more than one paragraph. Please refer to the Al‑Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P‑24/27) or the Newsletter Editors Guideline (G‑21) for further explanation.

Al‑Anon copyrighted literature is one of our primary sources of revenue within the fellowship, not only for the WSO but also for the Literature Distribution Centers and General Service Offices throughout the world. By respecting our copyright, we are protecting our own Tradition Seven, “Every group ought to be fully self‑supporting, declining outside contributions.” If we allowed others to copy and reprint our literature freely, we would be diverted from our primary purpose, “helping families and friends of alcoholics.”

We understand that this process takes time and that these guidelines will require your advance planning. In order for Al‑Anon/Alateen to continue to carry our message of hope to families and friends of alcoholics, we must protect what is ours. Much like with our Traditions, one violation can put our entire fellowship in jeopardy. (For example, if another organization quoted from one of our pamphlets or The Forum lobbying for legislation on alcohol, without our written permission, this quote could create the appearance of our lending support to an outside issue.) We can each do our part in assuring that “When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, let the hand of Al‑Anon and Alateen always be there, and—Let It Begin with Me.”

Please see the Newsletter Editors Guideline (G‑21) for further information here.

Other Questions that May Be Helpful to Writers

Al‑Anon and Alateen are registered names of Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Blanket permission to use the names is given to the Al‑Anon Family Groups throughout the world. Use outside of the fellowship will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Permission to use the names Al‑Anon or Alateen in a book title or subtitle will be denied.

Permission for limited excerpts (of no more than one paragraph in length) of any quotations from Al‑Anon copyrighted material in publications outside of the fellowship must be requested in writing using the appropriate form. It is also necessary to give credit by stating: “From [identify the publication], copyright 20__, by Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.”

Alcoholics Anonymous holds the copyright for the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. You need to secure permission in writing from them (Alcoholics Anonymous, P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163) to use the Steps or Traditions. To use the Twelve Concepts of Service, you must request permission from the Al‑Anon World Service Office (WSO).

Questions regarding the Internet and other electronic use

Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. does not permit Conference Approved Literature (CAL) to be duplicated on websites.

Selected sharings from Al‑Anon’s monthly magazine are featured on the WSO website, al‑anon.org. These may be reprinted in service arm newsletters or websites. Only articles in The Forum that are followed by these words can be downloaded and shared: “Feel free to reprint this article on your service arm website or newsletter. along with the credit line: Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.”

For more information related to service arm websites, see the Al‑Anon Service Arm Websites Guideline (G‑40).