a stipend for established writers to work in universities and colleges to help students and staff to develop their writing skills, concentrating particularly on academic writing. Typically, these are one-to-one sessions. Writers employed include novelists, playwrights, poets, translators, writers of non-fiction and of children's books. By the end of 2006, there were 77 Fellows in 47 institutions throughout the mainland UK. The Fellowship Scheme also undertakes research into the state of writing among British students and school pupils and is proactive in promoting the development of writing skills. Between 2002 and 2005 a group of Project Fellowships existed to carry out research into how the work for the Fellowship could be furthered in the future. Sale of Rights Winnie the Pooh In 2001, the RLF sold the rights of the character Winnie the Pooh, and others in the series, to Disney. The $350 million deal gave Disney full rights to the franchise until copyright expires in 2026. Winnie the Pooh author A. A. Milne had sold the rights to the RLF. The RLF gained about $132 million from the deal. Disney first acquired the rights to the characters in the 1960s and paid twice-yearly royalties to the RLF and other beneficiaries. References External links Royal Literary Fund website Current RLF Fellows UK universities with resident RLF Fellows The Royal Literary Fund: A Short History, Janet Adam Smith, president RLF 1976-1984. Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1790 Organisations based in London with royal patronage Arts organizations established in the 18th century