Re: Copyright in book publishing question

On Mon, Feb 22, 1999, Ivan Hoffman <ivanlove[_at_]earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> On 2/20/99, Cynthia F. Kiyotake <cfk[_at_]mgma.com> wrote:
> >
> > I have recently joined this discussion group and have found it valuable
> > in terms of content as well as the active postings to messages. I
> > thought I would ask this question to the list for help. As a book
> > publisher, we typically contract with authors who give us copyright.
> > What happens when a ghostwriter is involved in writing the book? Does
> > the ghostwriter sign an author contract, as well as the author whose
> > name appears on the book? Or does a ghostwriter's work fall under the
> > work for hire concept?
>
> You can arrange this in a number of ways although work made for hire may
> not be appropriate unless the ghostwriter's contribution was "specially
> ordered and commissioned" by the publisher and falls within the stated
> statutory categories and requirements. (Read "Work Made for Hire
> Agreements" on my site. Click on "Helpful Articles for Writers and
> Publishers.")
>
> Otherwise, you can make the author agreement with both the author and
> ghostwriter, jointly and individually, and they both grant the rights to
> the publisher. (Read "In Bed Together: The Problems of Collaboration."
> Same link.)
>
> Whatever you do, get an attorney to handle this tranasaction for you.
> (Read "The Do It Yourself Publishing Lawyer" on my site. Same link.)
>
> And btw: I am pleased to announce that my site has just won its **Fourth
> Award** for content.

Ivan:

Beginning to sound dangerously like advertising.

Greg Ikonen
<gikonen[_at_]venlaw.com> Received on Tue Feb 23 1999 - 16:22:49 GMT