The majority of creative people don't have much patience for the legal side of the business. They prefer to concentrate on their art and avoid the paperwork. Unfortunately, in business there are always details that need to be attended to in order to make sure everyone is satisfied with the final job. A contract doesn't have to be filled with legalese or contain as many pages as a novel. There are ways to write sensible contracts for creatives that are also binding.
It's a good idea to have a positive attitude when negotiating a legal agreement with a second party. Instead of looking at this contract as a necessary evil required to protect you against something, you should try and look at it as a way of putting your understanding with another person on paper. A contract is a document that ensures everyone is of one mind. All you really need in a binding contract is the offer, an acceptance of that offer, and what of value will be exchanged to satisfy the transaction.
Including a cover letter is something most experts recommend. The letter doesn't have to be a part of your official contract. Instead it can act as a summary of what the contact contains. You can include such items in the cover letter as who the parties to the contract are, the length of the agreement, what of value is being exchanged, and what, if any, restrictions you are requiring in exchange for the use of the product.
Adding section headings is another good idea. Headings make it easier for everyone involved to navigate the agreement. It can also make information easier to go to if it is referred to in another section of this contract. The legal names of all parties to the agreement and the date the agreement is entered into needs to be at the top of the document. It is also a good idea to include the contract length and whether or not it is renewable in this section.
A valid contract must have a mutual consideration. That means that you are providing work for your client, and your client is giving you something of value in return. This could be money, a work of art, or something less physically tangible like publicity.
The terms of your agreement have to delineated clearly, whatever your agreement is. How the intellectual property will be handled has to be addressed in this kind of contract. It may be that you are granting temporary use in the form of a license while retaining the copyright.
If you are working on a project, it may be necessary to include a schedule in your contract. There might need to be a time frame for delivery of sketches or first drafts and another for revisions and acceptance. A date for delivery of the final product must also be a part of this contract.
The payment method should have a section in any contract. The customer might be making partial payments in advance or giving you a retainer. You may be accepting the total purchase price at the time of delivery.
It's a good idea to have a positive attitude when negotiating a legal agreement with a second party. Instead of looking at this contract as a necessary evil required to protect you against something, you should try and look at it as a way of putting your understanding with another person on paper. A contract is a document that ensures everyone is of one mind. All you really need in a binding contract is the offer, an acceptance of that offer, and what of value will be exchanged to satisfy the transaction.
Including a cover letter is something most experts recommend. The letter doesn't have to be a part of your official contract. Instead it can act as a summary of what the contact contains. You can include such items in the cover letter as who the parties to the contract are, the length of the agreement, what of value is being exchanged, and what, if any, restrictions you are requiring in exchange for the use of the product.
Adding section headings is another good idea. Headings make it easier for everyone involved to navigate the agreement. It can also make information easier to go to if it is referred to in another section of this contract. The legal names of all parties to the agreement and the date the agreement is entered into needs to be at the top of the document. It is also a good idea to include the contract length and whether or not it is renewable in this section.
A valid contract must have a mutual consideration. That means that you are providing work for your client, and your client is giving you something of value in return. This could be money, a work of art, or something less physically tangible like publicity.
The terms of your agreement have to delineated clearly, whatever your agreement is. How the intellectual property will be handled has to be addressed in this kind of contract. It may be that you are granting temporary use in the form of a license while retaining the copyright.
If you are working on a project, it may be necessary to include a schedule in your contract. There might need to be a time frame for delivery of sketches or first drafts and another for revisions and acceptance. A date for delivery of the final product must also be a part of this contract.
The payment method should have a section in any contract. The customer might be making partial payments in advance or giving you a retainer. You may be accepting the total purchase price at the time of delivery.
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