COPYRIGHT DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is
entered into this ______ day of __________, 2000 (the "Effective
Date) by and between ____________________ (the "Web Publisher") and
______________________ ("the Writer").
IN CONSIDERATION, of the promises
and mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties
agree as follows:
1. Engagement of Services. Writer
agrees to perform the following services for Web Publisher in the
following manner:
- 1.1 Writer shall author or edit
and submit to Web Publisher written articles, columns, questions
and answers, resource listings, checklists, and forms as may be
requested, dealing with _________________issues pertaining to the
Internet (the "Work Product"). Web Publisher shall provide Writer
with resource materials, and the theme, target audience, and
suggested issues and sub-issues to be addressed. Unless specified
otherwise, the Work Product shall be prepared in accordance with
the written guidelines of Web Publisher and formatted in 12pt.
Arial, single-spaced.
- 1.2 Unless otherwise agreed,
articles shall be ____________ pages in length, as is necessary to
address key issue of the topic the article. Writer is responsible
for the factual correctness of the information contained in the
articles.
- 1.3 The Articles shall be the
original work of Writer and shall not infringe upon the copyrights
of others. Writer agrees to perform the services in a professional
manner, to complete each article within one week, and to make any
revisions or changes requested by Web Publisher in accordance with
Section 2.1. When necessary, Writer may request an extension of
time beyond one week, either orally or in writing. Email
transmission of a written request will be acceptable.
- 1.4 Writer may not subcontract
or otherwise delegate her obligations under this Agreement without
Web Publisher's prior written consent.
- 1.5 Writer has the right to
refuse any and all assignments.
- 1.6 Writer will submit authored
and edited Work Product to Web Publisher via email, and will
converse via email, telephonically or in-person as necessary
regarding the same.
2. Compensation.
- 2.1 Fees and Approved Expenses.
Original copy. Web Publisher will pay Writer the fee of $_________
per page for main body of original written text, questions and
answers, columns, and checklists. Writer will not be reimbursed
for any expenses incurred in connection with the performance of
services under this Agreement, unless Web Publisher approves those
expenses in advance and in writing.
- 2.2 Payment Due. Web Publisher
will review the Work Product within five (5) business days after
receiving it from Writer to ensure that it meets the requirements
stated in Section 1. If Web Publisher does not give written notice
of rejection or requests for modification within that time period
the Work Product will be deemed accepted. Web Publisher will pay
Writer for the services and will reimburse Writer for previously
approved expenses, within ten (10) business days of
acceptance.
3. Independent Contractor
Relationship. Web Publisher and Writer understand, acknowledge, and
agree that Writer's relationship with Web Publisher will be that of
an independent contractor and nothing in this Agreement is intended
to or should be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, or
employment relationship.
4. Trade Secrets and Confidential
Information.
- 4.1 Third-Party Information.
Writer represents that her performance of all of the terms of this
Agreement does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in
confidence proprietary information, knowledge or data of a third
party and Writer will not knowingly disclose to Web Publisher, or
induce Web Publisher to use, any confidential or proprietary
information belonging to third parties unless such use or
disclosure is authorized in writing by such owners.
- 4.2 Confidential Information.
Writer agrees during the term of this Agreement and thereafter to
take all steps reasonably necessary to hold in trust and
confidence information which he knows or has reason to know is
considered confidential by Web Publisher ("Confidential
Information"). Writer agrees to use the Confidential Information
solely to perform the projects hereunder. Confidential Information
includes, but is not limited to, technical and business
information relating to Web Publisher's products, research and
development, processes, and future business plans. Writer's
obligations with respect to the Confidential Information also
extend to any third party's proprietary or confidential
information disclosed to Writer in the course of providing
services to Web Publisher. This obligation shall not extend to any
information that becomes generally known to the public without
breach of this Agreement. This obligation shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
5. Ownership of Work
Product
- 5.1 Definition. "Work Product"
means the works of authorship conceived or developed by Writer
while performing the project services under this Agreement and
prior works described in Section 8 of this Agreement.
- 5.2 Assignment. Writer hereby
irrevocably assigns, conveys, and otherwise transfers to Web
Publisher, and its respective successors and assigns, all rights,
title and interests worldwide in and to the Work Product and all
copyrights, contract and licensing rights, and claims and causes
of action of any kind with respect to any of the foregoing,
whether now known or hereafter to become known. In the event
Writer has any rights in and to the Work Product that cannot be
assigned to Web Publisher, Writer hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably waives the enforcement of all such rights, and all
claims and causes of action of any kind with respect to any of the
foregoing against Web Publisher, its distributors and customers,
whether now known or hereafter to become known and agrees, at the
request and expense of Web Publisher and its respective successors
and assigns, to consent to and join in any action to enforce such
rights and to procure a waiver of such rights from the holders of
such rights. In the event Writer has any rights in and to the Work
Product that cannot be assigned to Web Publisher and cannot be
waived, Writer hereby grants to Web Publisher, and its respective
successors and assigns, an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free
license during the term of the rights to reproduce, distribute,
modify, publicly perform and publicly display, with the right to
sub-license through multiple tiers of sub-licenses, and the right
to assign such rights in and to the Work Product including,
without limitation, the right to use in any way whatsoever the
Work Product. Writer retains no rights to use the Work Product
except as stated in Exhibit A and agrees not to challenge the
validity of the copyright ownership by Web Publisher in the Work
Product.
- 5.3 Name Recognition. Writer
shall receive Name Recognition as author on all articles and
columns. Recognition will be clear and conspicuous. In the event
that Web Publisher assigns or licenses said articles or columns to
any third party(ies), Web Publisher will use their best efforts to
ensure Writer receives proper Name Recognition. In all
circumstances, proper Name Recognition is considered as follows:
____________________.
- 5.4 Creative License. Writer
shall have final review of her Work Product before publishing. If
Writer finds the finished Work Product to be unsatisfactory,
Writer may choose not to receive Name Recognition in accordance
with Section 5.3.
- 5.5 Power of Attorney. Writer
agrees to assist Web Publisher in any reasonable manner to obtain
and enforce for Web Publisher's benefit copyrights covering the
Work Product in any and all countries. Contractor agrees to
execute, when requested, copyright, or similar applications and
assignments to Web Publisher, and any other lawful documents
deemed necessary by Web Publisher to carry out the purpose of this
Agreement. Writer further agrees that the obligations and
undertaking stated in this Section 5.5 will continue for one year
after the termination of this agreement beyond the termination of
Writer's service to Web Publisher. If called upon to render
assistance under this Section 5.5, Writer will be entitled to a
fair and reasonable fee in addition to the reimbursement of
authorized expenses incurred at the prior written request of Web
Publisher. In the event that Writer is unable for any reason
whatsoever to secure Writer's signature to any lawful and
necessary document required to apply for or execute any copyright
or other applications with respect to any Work Product, Writer
hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Web Publisher and its
duly authorized officers and agents as his or her agents and
attorneys-in-fact to act for and in her behalf and instead of
Writer, to execute and file any such application and to do all
other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and
issuance of copyrights or other similar rights thereon with the
same legal force and effect as if executed by Writer.
6. Warranties. Writer represents
and warrants that:
The Work Product was created solely
by Writer, her full-time employees during their employment, or
independent contractors who assigned all right, title and interest
worldwide in their work to Writer.
Writer is the owner of all right,
title and interest in the tangible forms of the Work Product and all
intellectual property rights protecting them. The Work Product and
the intellectual property rights protecting them are free and clear
of all encumbrances, including, without limitation, security
interests, licenses, liens, charges or other restrictions.
Writer has maintained the Work
Product in confidence.
The use, reproduction,
distribution, or modification of the Work Product does not and will
not violate the rights of any third parties in the Work Product
including, but limited to, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks,
publicity and privacy.
The Work Product is not in the
public domain.
Writer has full power and authority
to make and enter into this Agreement.
7. Indemnification. Writer agrees
to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Web Publisher, their
officers, directors, sub-licensees, employees and agents, from and
against any claims, actions or demands, including without limitation
reasonable legal and accounting fees, alleging or resulting from the
breach of the warranties in Section 6. Web Publisher shall provide
notice to Writer promptly of any such claim, suit, or proceeding and
shall assist Writer, at Writer's expense, in defending any such
claim, suit or proceeding.
8. Prior Work. The Parties
acknowledge that prior to this Agreement, Writer has submitted to Web
Publisher Work Product created as a writing sample. Writer hereby
irrevocable assigns conveys, and otherwise transfers to Web
Publisher, and its respective successors and assigns, all rights,
title and interests worldwide and all copyrights in and to said work,
and makes all warranties as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement
with respect to said work.
9. General Provisions.
- 9.1 Entire Agreement of the
Parties. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the rendering of services by Writer
for Web Publisher, and supersedes any prior agreements, either
written or verbal. Any modification of this Agreement will be
effective only if it is in writing signed by both parties.
- 9.2 Governing Law. This
Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of ___________.
- 9.3 Good Faith and Fair
Dealing. Both parties agree that they will act in good faith in
all matters concerning this Agreement, and that all terms of this
contract are to be interpreted reasonably and in a fair and
equitable manner.
10. Termination. This agreement may
be terminated by either party, for any reason, with or without cause,
upon thirty (30) days written notice. Nothing in this agreement shall
require Web Publisher to assign any specific number of assignments
nor shall this agreement obligate Writer to accept any specific
assignments. The purpose of this agreement is to govern the payment
schedule and the rights and responsibilities of the parties for work
assignments accepted by the Writer.
11. Arbitration. Each party looks
forward to a mutually enjoyable relationship with the other. However,
should any controversy or claim arise out of and/or relating to this
contract or breach thereof, which is not settled between the
signatories themselves, the same shall be settled by arbitration in
accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Arbitration hearings shall take place in San Diego, California.
Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in
any court having jurisdiction thereof, including the award to the
aggrieved signatory/signatories, their heirs, assignees, and/or
designees, for the total remuneration received as a result of
business conduct with the parties covered by this Agreement, plus
court costs, attorney's fees, and other charges and damages deemed
fair by the arbitrator(s). THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE
AWARE OF THE FACT THAT BY AGREEING TO ARBITRATE THEY WAIVE ANY RIGHT
THEY HAVE TO A COURT OR JURY TRIAL.
"Web Publisher"
Dated: ___________________________
By:________________________________
"Writer"
Dated:
____________________________
___________________________________