Onerous contracts

[Clay Coleman]

Here's a clause in a contract that was offered to me recently. It essentially transfers co-ownership of my images to the publisher, as they would have world-wide rights to use the images in perpetuity plus the right to transfer (read "sell") their rights to third parties. It would also preclude me from guaranteeing exclusive rights for any period of time to any other potential buyer. Needless to say, I didn't sign this, but I wanted to show it as an example of what some publishers will try to get away with. Always read this stuff, no matter how tedious it is. -Clay

"All-Rights License. Writer grants **P, LLC the exclusive right to first publish the Work(s) in (publication deleted) and a non-exclusive fully-paid worldwide license to use the accepted Work(s) for the term of the copyright therein. Writer also grants **P, LLC a non-exclusive fully-paid worldwide license to use all other Work(s) **P, LLC previously accepted from me. These licenses include the right to publish the Work(s), create derivative Work(s), and use, adapt, modify, perform, transmit or reproduce such material and derivatives in any form or medium now or hereafter known without limitation, and to transfer or sublicense any of these rights to anyone acting for the benefit of **P, LLC as determined in its sole discretion and to subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns."

[dascubanut]

and still have no idea what it says.

[Jonathan Bird]

There is nothing wrong with a contract like that as long as they are paying you appropriately, meaning a HELL of a lot of money.

Jonathan