The whole category in one page.
THE LONG-TERM VALUE OF CREATIVE WORK IS IN THE RIGHTS, AND THEY ARE ROUTINELY SIGNED AWAY FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT
Assignment is permanent; licensing is not. Prefer licensing with a defined scope, and be cautious of anything granting all rights in all media in perpetuity.
PRICE ON THE SCOPE OF RIGHTS, NOT ON HOURS
The same photograph used locally for a month and globally forever are entirely different products. When the budget is fixed, reduce the scope or the rights — never the rate.
IN MUSIC, THE COMPOSITION AND THE RECORDING ARE SEPARATE RIGHTS, AND WRITING SHARES MUST BE DOCUMENTED AT CREATION
Disputes about who wrote what are common, bitter, and impossible to settle after success arrives.
UNDERSTAND THAT ADVANCES ARE RECOUPABLE — THEY ARE LOANS AGAINST FUTURE EARNINGS, NOT PAYMENTS
TAKE A DEPOSIT ALWAYS, AND STATE THAT RIGHTS TRANSFER ONLY ON FULL PAYMENT
It converts non-payment from a debt into a rights matter, which is a far stronger position.
BACK UP EVENT AND CLIENT WORK BEFORE LEAVING THE LOCATION, BECAUSE CARD FAILURE AT A WEDDING IS UNRECOVERABLE
BUILD A DIRECT CHANNEL TO YOUR AUDIENCE, SINCE PLATFORM REACH IS LENT RATHER THAN OWNED AND TERMS CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
AGREE SPLITS, OWNERSHIP AND WHAT HAPPENS ON DEPARTURE BEFORE COLLABORATING, BECAUSE AGREEMENT AFTER SUCCESS IS IMPOSSIBLE
HAVE EVERY RECORDING, PUBLISHING OR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT REVIEWED BEFORE SIGNING — URGENCY IS HOW UNFAVOURABLE TERMS GET ACCEPTED
AND BUILD A CATALOGUE THAT KEEPS EARNING AFTER IT IS MADE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SEPARATES A CAREER FROM A SERIES OF JOBS
