We wanted to get to know MJ Courchesne (NAIWE’s Copyright & Permissions Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
Should a freelancer expect to sign a work-for-hire agreement for each job?
It’s good practice to sign some sort of contract before starting a new job. Whether it’s a work-for-hire or another arrangement is really up to the freelancer. If you’re new to the field, you may wish to sign a work-for-hire to get your name out there and establish your reputation in a certain topic area. If you’re an established writer, you may wish to push for a royalty or another arrangement wherein you maintain your copyright. But either way, a contract between you and your client is good business so that both you and your client understand the full terms of your arrangement from who owns the work to how payments should be made.
Can you use your own contract in lieu of using the other party’s?
It may depend on the client. If it’s a small company, they may be amenable to signing a contract that you prepared. If it’s a well-established corporation, however, they may very well insist you sign their contract.
What language in a contract would cause you not to sign it?
This is tricky because it really depends upon the nature of the job. Obviously, if you are interested in maintaining your copyright, you will want to avoid any transfer of copyright language. Beyond that, it really depends upon your goals and business needs for the job.
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This interactive webinar will feature some sample agreements and sources for templates that the writer might find useful during their writing career. What does a work-for-hire generally look like? What should you expect in a standard trade publishing contract? How common are NDAs in the publishing world and why might you need one? How do you format a simple permission request? Who can you reach out to for help when reviewing a contract? Be ready to take notes and bring your questions for this informative session on contracts and agreements.
You can join in this conversation on August 31, at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on writing agreements. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
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