Hey, aspiring writers! Wanna know what a crap contract looks like?
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/11/read_the_brutal_contract_from.html
I'm semi-admiring of the way Frey is unabashedly evil. As a once-was-law-student, I found clause 15 the most amusing. Forget the fact that you only get paid $125 up front, with another $125 when your manuscript is complete and the company owns your work for the rest of time, clause 15 says even if they break the contract, there is nothing you can do about it - you can't even end the contract.
On the other hand, if you stuff up, or even look like you might stuff up, they can get an order from the court forcing you to complete the contract EVEN if they can't show that your considered inaction would cause a loss to the company.
Of course, I know buckleys about US law, but in Australia I am reasonably certain several of those clauses would not stand up in court. 15.3, for example.
But what I am certain of is this - if you sign that contract, you have almost no legal leg to stand on.
Please, aspiring authors, show your contract to a good lawyer first. Or your local authors association.
We all want the dream - a published book. But wouldn't you like to reap the rewards for your hard work as well?
Word count - 3,142
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