Contracts

Common Mistakes Authors Make Negotiating Rights and Contracts

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:55:38 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 3/17/2023 3:55:38 PM

Contracts are difficult for most people to decipher without the assistance of attorney, and when writing and publishing a book there may be many types of contracts you encounter along the way. The best way to avoid making costly errors when dealing with contracts is to hire an attorney. It's also important to understand the benefits of copyright registration and copyright notice, per attorney Greg Victoroff. If considering a writing collaboration, he advises authors to be careful because it's important to divide up liability and rights. In addition, he cautions writers to be careful of scams and to temper their expectations about how successful a book might be.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../CommonMistakesAuthorsMakeNegotiatingRightsandContracts.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

The Four Elements of an Effective Contract for Authors

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:51:14 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:51:14 PM

Writing is often a solitary activity, but you will eventually involve others in the process, points out Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates. This may include collaborators, agents, managers, illustrators, and so forth. When you create this connection, it’s important to get an agreement down on paper – a contract. Victoroff lists the four Ps of a contract:

Parties: who is the agreement between, and where is each party physically located?
Property: what is being bargained over? Include the book genre, length, etc. At the end, what product will exist?
Performance: what’s the timeline? Who is supposed to do what, and when?
Price: what amount will be paid to whom, and when.

If a contract you have entered has been breached or violated, Victoroff offers his advice here.

The material contained in this video is NOT legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client or other confidential relationship between the User and the Author Learning Center. Users should contact an attorney in their jurisdiction for legal advice regarding their particular situation.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheFourElementsofanEffectiveContractforAuthors.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

The Four Elements of an Effective Contract for Authors

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:51:04 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:51:04 PM

"Writing is often a solitary activity, but you will eventually involve others in the process, points out Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates. This may include collaborators, agents, managers, illustrators, and so forth. When you create this connection, it’s important to get an agreement down on paper – a contract. Victoroff lists the four Ps of a contract:

Parties: who is the agreement between, and where is each party physically located?
Property: what is being bargained over? Include the book genre, length, etc. At the end, what product will exist?
Performance: what’s the timeline? Who is supposed to do what, and when?
Price: what amount will be paid to whom, and when.

If a contract you have entered has been breached or violated, Victoroff offers his advice here.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheFourElementsofanEffectiveContractforAuthors.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Legal Steps an Author Can Take When a Service Provider Fails to Fulfill Their Contract

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:50:18 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:50:18 PM

In the case of a breached contract, Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates, believes that authors should avoid litigation at all costs. There are a few strategies to do this. First, a contract should include contingencies: what will happen if someone doesn’t deliver what was originally agreed upon. This way, there is already a set plan in place. The contract should also include a dispute resolution clause: what will happen if the parties disagree. This may include a mediation meeting or something similar. At the end of the day, Victoroff says it all comes down to having a human conversation with the other side. Talk on the phone or meet in person to settle your differences.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../8304.LegalStepsanAuthorCanTakeWhenaServiceProviderFailstoFulfillTheirContract.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Contract Advice for Authors Entering Into a Collaboration With an Illustrator

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:48:50 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:48:50 PM

Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates, simply describes contracts as an agreement between people. In the case of authors and illustrators, the agreement may cover who owns the illustrations, when they are due, how many will be due, and so on. Victoroff recommends referring to Tad Crawford’s Business and Legal Forms for Illustrators and the Writers Guild of America Collaboration Agreement to get a good idea of how a contract between an author and illustrator should look. Because the author is usually seeking out the illustrator, the illustrator may have some leverage to negotiate for certain fees and conditions.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ContractAdviceforAuthorsEnteringIntoaCollaborationWithanIllustrator.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

What Authors Should Look Out For When Entering Into a Publishing Contract

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:47:33 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:47:33 PM

There are considerations all authors should take when reviewing a contract, explains Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates. What rights are being requested by the publisher? This may include where the book will be distributed, if the publisher will have exclusive distribution privileges, and the possibility for the publisher to adapt the book into a different medium, like a movie. Victoroff urges authors to not give up their rights so quickly. See what the publisher’s strengths are and how they will best help you. He also encourages negotiation; if you don’t ask, you don’t get, Victoroff says. Don’t be afraid to ask for more money and more rights.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../WhatAuthorsShouldLookOutForWhenEnteringIntoaPublishingContract.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

The Four Elements of an Effective Contract for Authors

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:57:27 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/8/2019 4:57:27 PM

Parties: who is the agreement between, and where is each party physically located?
Property: what is being bargained over? Include the book genre, length, etc. At the end, what product will exist?
Performance: what’s the timeline? Who is supposed to do what, and when?
Price: what amount will be paid to whom, and when.

If a contract you have entered has been breached or violated, Victoroff offers his advice here.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheFourElementsofanEffectiveContractforAuthors.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Legal Steps an Author Can Take When a Service Provider Fails to Fulfill Their Contract

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:56:58 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/8/2019 4:56:58 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../LegalStepsanAuthorCanTakeWhenaServiceProviderFailstoFulfillTheirContract.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Legal Steps an Author Can Take When a Service Provider Fails to Fulfill Their Contract

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:56:06 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/8/2019 4:56:06 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../LegalStepsanAuthorCanTakeWhenaServiceProviderFailstoFulfillTheirContract.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

The Four Elements of an Effective Contract for Authors

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:48:48 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Contracts by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/8/2019 4:48:48 PM

Parties: who is the agreement between, and where is each party physically located?
Property: what is being bargained over? Include the book genre, length, etc. At the end, what product will exist?
Performance: what’s the timeline? Who is supposed to do what, and when?
Price: what amount will be paid to whom, and when.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheFourElementsofanEffectiveContractforAuthors.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Things to Be Aware of When Negotiating a Publishing Contract

José Pablo Iriarte — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:46:53 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by José Pablo Iriarte on 1/21/2019 2:46:53 PM

Signing a contract is both exciting and terrifying for first-time authors. For those who don’t work in the publishing industry, it’s incredibly difficult to know whether or not a contract is fair for the author. José Pablo Iriarte, author and educator, shares his experience in negotiating publishing contracts. First, he recommends that authors ensure that their agent works for a reputable agency, as it’s often your agent who is negotiating your contracts for you. Trustworthy agents tend to be incredibly fair because the agency has a reputation to maintain. Second, hiring a lawyer to look over a contract is sometimes helpful, but not always necessary. Finally, authors need to be sure that they’re hiring lawyers that know the publishing industry. Publishing contracts are unique in the legal world and the terms don’t always make sense to people who haven’t previously negotiated with a publisher. To hear Iriarte explain each of these ideas in detail, listen to the clip below!

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ThingstoBeAwareofWhenNegotiatingaPublishingContract.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Things to Be Aware of When Negotiating a Publishing Contract

José Pablo Iriarte — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 13:52:21 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Contracts by José Pablo Iriarte on 1/21/2019 1:52:21 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ThingstoBeAwareofWhenNegotiatingaPublishingContract.mp4

Advice for Dealing With Book Contracts and Rights Management

Lawrence Knorr — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:00:24 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by Lawrence Knorr on 1/7/2019 3:00:24 PM

Without a law degree, navigating the world of content rights, copyright management, printing rights, and more can be overwhelming or even impossible. Authors, though, need to be aware of the contracts they’re signing and what all these documents entail. Lawrence Knorr, author and founder of Sunbury Press, talks about how to approach a contract. Part of Sunbury Press’s ethic is to deal fairly with authors, and they consult with the Authors Guild to make sure that contracts are mutually beneficial. Authors can also become members of the Authors Guild and use their contract guidelines to make decisions. In addition, Knorr talks about attorneys and when an author should consider using one. At Sunbury some authors use attorneys but many choose to forgo an attorney and work directly with the publishing house. Depending on an author’s familiarity with the business, though, they may want the security of hiring an attorney. Knorr talks about what kind of attorney may be helpful and which kind of attorney you want to avoid. Listen to the clip below to learn how to enter the world of book contracts.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AdviceforDealingWithBookContractsandRightsManagement.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Advice for Dealing With Book Contracts and Rights Management

Author Learning Center — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 14:29:50 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Contracts by Author Learning Center on 1/7/2019 2:29:50 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AdviceforDealingWithBookContractsandRightsManagement.mp4

Advice for Dealing With Book Contracts and Rights Management

Author Learning Center — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 14:28:15 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Contracts by Author Learning Center on 1/7/2019 2:28:15 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AdviceforDealingWithBookContractsandRightsManagement.mp4

Contracts

Former Member — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 01:41:48 GMT

Current Revision posted to Contracts by Former Member on 11/12/2016 1:41:48 AM