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dlmaslow · 2008-04-18 #4

Don't forget your personal liability!!

I say all of this to scare you into getting a lawyer.

Although you can get a general contract that will make sure you get paid and they get the work on time, its not going to help you if they get sued over some work you did for them. They should pay for the lawsuit and damages, and you should be able to direct the defense because you created the work. The company you are going to work with will have a lawyer, and their standard contracts will be written in their favor.

You also have to seriously consider who owns the work when the two parties part ways. Things that are missing from your contract, signing after work has begun, or the absence of a contract all effect your legal rights and liability. In the rare instance u walk away from a project with the rights to your work you have to outline their rights, term, and limitations to use. Look up how the USPTO defines "work made for hire", as 90+% of the time that is how it will be.

I am just starting a business myself, and I ended up with a number of different contract for each unique situation, web, graphics, photo, product development. Getting a lawyer is your best bet. You can at least write off part of the expense if your starting up a company. There are also some free services for young enterpriser's, artists, new businesses, etc, provided by law schools and community interest groups.

	dlmaslow	2008-04-18 #4
	Don't forget your personal liability!!I say all of this to scare you into getting a lawyer. Although you can get a general contract that will make sure you get paid and they get the work on time, its not going to help you if they get sued over some work you did for them. They should pay for the lawsuit and damages, and you should be able to direct the defense because you created the work. The company you are going to work with will have a lawyer, and their standard contracts will be written in their favor. You also have to seriously consider who owns the work when the two parties part ways. Things that are missing from your contract, signing after work has begun, or the absence of a contract all effect your legal rights and liability. In the rare instance u walk away from a project with the rights to your work you have to outline their rights, term, and limitations to use. Look up how the USPTO defines "work made for hire", as 90+% of the time that is how it will be. I am just starting a business myself, and I ended up with a number of different contract for each unique situation, web, graphics, photo, product development. Getting a lawyer is your best bet. You can at least write off part of the expense if your starting up a company. There are also some free services for young enterpriser's, artists, new businesses, etc, provided by law schools and community interest groups.