I would never, ever, ever, ever sign a freelance contract that gave someone else rights in perpetuity to my work. Freelance sales are for first use only, and then all rights revert to me, period. Wouldn’t do it any other way.
Writer’s Rights
2 thoughts on “Writer’s Rights”
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Several months ago I was approached by an ‘outfit’ from New York City who wanted me to up my bond to a half-million and name ‘them’ sole beneficiary in exchange for an ‘exclusive’ listing of local high-end clientele. I laughed all the way to the FBI office.
Good advice on freelance rights. It seems that some freelancers are so happy to get work — or so not interested in reading the fine print — that they sign away rights without really knowing what they are doing. It is tough. As the story said, publishers will have lawyers write contracts that cover every possibility — even those they have no intention of exercising — and that becomes their standard. Freelancers, meanwhile, get a different contract from everyone they sign with.
Thanks for reading and for the advice.
Joe