Content Writing (legal contracts)

**rodrix** · 12-09-2007 04:58 AM

Hi!
I am new to this site.

I am 22 and I am trying to launch my first business, related to the software industry.

I am now working with people from Odesk.com and I need to hire Content-writers.

My concern is about what legal contracts should I provide in order to avoid having legal problems in respect of the copyrights of the content writing I paid for. I was thinking of a contract that explicitly mentioned that the copyrights of the written work would be mine, and that he/she could not publish the information on another pages.

However the problem is that we are on different countries....
Can a legal contract be made online!?
Can this type of contracts templates be found online?

Thank you very much,
Rod

**BusinessAdviser** · 12-09-2007 05:23 AM

You can find online forms for anything. However, the quality is often iffy, and my advice is always to speak with an attorney regarding legal issues.

In order for you to own the copyright written by someone else, you need to do one of two things:

1. Expressly agree in writing that the author is writing the content as work-for-hire with the intent that you are the owner of the copyright in the content, and have both parties sign it.

2. After the content is written, have the author assign his/her copyright ownership over to you.

This is why it's important to hire an attorney. Yes, it's more expensive than pulling stuff off the web, but as anyone else on here who has dealt with legal issues can tell you, often the trade off is between paying a small amount up front for legal work, or paying a ton on the back end because you run into legal issues later on.

**akula** · 12-09-2007 05:23 AM

yes, contracts can validly be executed electronically, including through the use of clickwrap agreements

umm..templates..call up someone who hires copywriters and ask for a copy

**rodrix** · 12-09-2007 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by akula

yes, contracts can validly be executed electronically, including through the use of clickwrap agreements

umm..templates..call up someone who hires copywriters and ask for a copy

Thanks!
This has been very useful.

Could you tell me more about clickwrap agreements?!
Suppose I get an attorney or get a copy of a contract from someone, how can I make that paper valid over the internet?!

I read that I need the user to write personal information and then click on the box, but that it was troublesome, and I couldn't find exact specifications of what should I include or not. And what proof do I have that he/she clicked on the box?

Maybe if I put the Contract agreement on the startup of my content editor program?! So that if he /she manages to write something it must mean that he/she has already passed and clicked on the contract agreement.
Would this be valid?

Thanks so much!

**jasaunders** · 12-09-2007 05:17 PM

A clickwrap agreement is basically just an electronic agreement. Everytime you download or install software you are asked to agree to the terms ,which are rather lengthy, before you can use the software. This is a clickwrap agreement. Unlike other types of agreements, it is an all or nothing situation.. you can't agree to part of the agreement. For example, if you install microsoft office, you can say you don't like one of the clauses and try to negotiate with Microsoft. You either accept their terms, or you don't use it. This is the most common form of clickwrap agreement, but really it could apply to any electronic legal agreement I believe.