Agreement to Co-Publish Musical Compositions
Agreement made on the ___ day of __________, 20___, between ____________ ,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of ______________,
with its principal office located at ______________________________ (street address,
city, county, state, zip code) , referred to herein as Publisher , and ____________ of
____________________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip
code) , referred to herein as Co-Publisher.
Whereas, Co-Publisher owns, or shall own, all rights, title, and interest in and to
compositions of ____________________ (Writer), including, but not limited to, all
copyrights and rights to copyright, throughout the world, together with all rights, claims,
and demands relating to the compositions and the copyrights of the same, whenever and
wherever arising; and
Whereas, Co-Publisher the agreement transferring all rights, title, and interest in
and to the compositions of Writer is attached hereto as Exhibit A;
Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the matters described above, and of
the mutual benefits and obligations set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree as
follows:
I. Grant of Rights to Publisher
Co-Publisher assigns to Publisher the sole and exclusive right to administer and
exploit compositions of Writer in its own name, and/or in the name of Co-Publisher, in
all media throughout the world, including, but not limited to, the following sole exclusive
rights:
A. To print, publish, sell, perform, use, and license the compositions, and any
rights in the compositions, for all uses and all media throughout the world;
B. To enter into all licenses and agreements concerning the compositions in
its own name, and/or in the name of Co-Publisher, including, but not limited to,
licenses for mechanical reproduction, public performance, synchronization uses,
sub-publication, merchandising, and advertising; and
C. To assign or license such rights to others, on such terms as Publisher, in its
sole discretion, may accept or to refrain from the same.
Publisher's rights sole and exclusive right to administer and exploit compositions
of Writer in its own name, and/or in the name of Co-Publisher, commences on the date of
this Agreement and expires on ____________ (date) .
II. Payment to Co-Publisher
Publisher shall collect all gross receipts, including performance monies, from the
compositions earned during the term of this Agreement with respect to each composition,
and shall pay Co-Publisher an amount equal to ______% of the adjusted gross receipts
that Publisher's shall receive, and shall retain the balance of the gross receipts for
Publisher's own account. As an advance against the amount payable to Co-Publisher,
Publisher agrees to pay Co-Publisher $_______________ within ____days after Co-
Publisher's signing of this Agreement. The adjusted gross Publisher's share shall be those
gross receipts, if any, actually received by Publisher in United States currency in the
United States and remaining after the deduction of costs of copyright registration, lead
sheets, demos, collection fees, accounting fees, legal fees, printing, advertising, publicity,
exploitation and promotional expenses, and all miscellaneous and customary expenses
incurred by Publisher in connection with the compositions. To the extent any of the
mentioned costs or expenses exceed the gross receipts collected by Publisher, Co-
Publisher shall promptly reimburse Publisher. Gross receipts shall not include any
advances, bonuses, or guaranty payments of minimum royalty payments Publisher may
receive in respect of the compositions, until earned from the exploitation of the
compositions.
III. Statements
Within ____ days after each ___________ (month and day) , or within ______
days after the close of such other semi-annual accounting period as Publisher may adopt,
from time to time, Publisher will prepare and furnish statements of amounts due to Co-
Publisher and make payment concurrently of all sums shown to be due, less all then
advances not recouped and other charges against Co-Publisher under this or any other
Agreement between the Parties, and less a reasonable reserve for subsequent charges,
credits, or returns. All such statements shall be deemed binding on Co-Publisher and not
subject to objection for any reason, unless specific written objection stating the basis of
the objection is given to Publisher within ____ months after rendition of the same, and
unless an action is instituted within _____ months after the date of the notice. In the event
of such objection, the statement shall be binding in all respects except those specifically
stated in the written objection. No statement need be rendered for any period in which
there are no gross receipts from the compositions. Co-Publisher shall have the right to
audit the books and records of Publisher once during each year with respect to any
statements received pursuant to this Agreement which are not then deemed binding,
provided that:
A. Co-Publisher shall give Publisher at least ______days prior notice of the
desire to conduct the audit;
B. The audit shall be conducted by a certified public accountant or attorney
during normal business hours; and
C. The expense of the audit shall be borne by co-publisher.
IV. Copyrights
Publisher may in its sole discretion take such action as it deems necessary or
desirable to enforce or protect any or all of Publisher's and/or Co-Publisher's rights and
interests in or to the compositions, including, but not limited to, securing registration of
copyrights in any or all of the compositions in Publisher's and/or Co-Publisher's name,
and bringing any actions or other proceedings against any third party infringers of the
compositions or any of them, or Publisher may refrain from the same. Publisher shall
have the sole right, in its absolute discretion, to employ attorneys, to institute or defend
any action or proceeding, and to take any other steps to protect the rights, titles, and
interest of Publisher and Co-Publisher in and to the compositions or any of them,
including the settlement, compromise, or other disposition of any claim, demand, or
action. In the event of any action brought by Publisher against any alleged infringer of the
compositions, or any of them, in which a recovery of monies is made by Publisher and
retained for Publisher's own account, such monies, after deduction of the expenses of the
litigation, including attorney's fees actually incurred, shall be considered additional gross
receipts under this Agreement.
V. Assignments
Publisher may assign or license any of its rights under this Agreement to, third
parties in one or more countries of the world. If Publisher enters into such an Agreement
with a company affiliated with or otherwise related to it, the Agreement shall be deemed
to have been made with an independent third party. The administration rights assigned to
Publisher shall be subject to any recording agreement of Writer, and Publisher agrees to,
issue mechanical licenses for any and all such compositions in accordance with the
recording agreement.
VI. Co-Publisher’s Warranties
Co-Publisher represents and warrants that:
A. It is or shall become, immediately on creation of each composition, the
sole owner of all right, title, and interest in and to each composition and
the worldwide copyrights in each composition (and any renewals and extensions of
copyright) and/or right to copyrights, free of all claims, demands, actions, liens, or
encumbrances;
B. Co-Publisher has the full and exclusive right to enter into and perform this
Agreement and grant the rights granted in this Agreement; the compositions are
and shall be original works;
C. The compositions do not and will not infringe on any statutory,
contractual, or other rights of any party, including rights of privacy;
D. Co-Publisher has not and will not, during the term of this Agreement with
respect to each composition, give any license, assignments, or other rights of any
kind in the composition to any one other than publisher, and there are and shall be
no advances that have not been recouped in respect of the same;
E. Co-Publisher has a valid, binding, written writer's agreement with Writer
pursuant to which Co-Publisher has or shall acquire all rights in the compositions
(including copyrights);
F. Co-Publisher is not in default of any Agreement with Writer; and
G. Copies of all agreements between writer and Co-Publisher are
currently with this Agreement being delivered to Publisher, and there are no other
documents or materials relating to the compositions.
Co-Publisher agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless of and from any
and all liability, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees)
occasioned by or arising out of any claim, demand, or action inconsistent with the
agreements, representations, warranties, or other obligations of Co-Publisher under this
Agreement. Co-Publisher agrees to pay publisher, on demand, the full amount for which
Co-Publisher may be responsible under the foregoing indemnity. Without limiting any of
its other rights or remedies, on the making or filing of any action, claim, or demand
subject to this Agreement, Publisher shall be entitled to withhold any sums otherwise
payable to Co-Publisher under this Agreement in an amount reasonably related to the
potential liability, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees, provided that Publisher shall
not so withhold if Co-Publisher posts a bond which has been approved in all aspects (e.g.,
form, amount, duration, surety, etc.) by Publisher.
VII. Advertising
Co-Publisher grants Publisher the right to use, and to license use of, the name and
likeness and biographical information concerning writer in connection with any or all
exploitations of the compositions, or any of them under this Agreement.
VIII. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the term "compositions" (individually a composition )
means all songs, music, and lyrics written, composed, or arranged by writer, in whole or
in part, alone or in collaboration with others, during the period of time commencing on
the date of this Agreement and expiring on ____________ (date) .
IX. Miscellaneous
A. Co-Publisher shall be solely responsible for, and shall pay when due, any
amounts or other obligations due to Writer in respect of any or all exploitations of
the compositions, and shall indemnify Publisher against claims of Writer with
respect to those amounts and obligations.
B. Any notice, consent, approval, demand, or other communication to be
given or sent to the other party under this Agreement must be in writing and must
be personally delivered or sent by certified or registered mail to the principal
place of business of Co-Publisher and Publisher.
C. The Parties agree to execute any further documents and do such other acts
as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to effectuate fully the intent of this
Agreement. Should either Party fail to execute any such document within
________ ( number) days after being requested to do so in writing, the other Party
is granted an irrevocable power of attorney, coupled with an interest, to execute
the same in the first Party's name as the first Party's attorney-in-fact. This
document sets forth the entire understanding between the Parties and cannot be
changed, modified, or canceled except by an instrument signed by the Party
sought to be bound. If any part of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable, the same shall not affect the balance of this Agreement. Either
party's waiver of any particular term or breach shall not be a waiver of any other
term or breach. All remedies, rights, and obligations in this Agreement shall be
cumulative. This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of
S tate of ___________ applicable to contracts made and performed or to be
performed entirely in said State . This is not a joint venture or a partnership
agreement, nor is this Agreement intended for the benefit of any one not a party to
it.
X. Arbitration
Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved by binding
arbitration of the Parties hereto. If the Parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, each Party
shall select one arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The third
arbitrator so selected shall arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed by the
rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force and effect.
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
________________ , INC.
________________________ By_______________________
(Name of Co-Publisher) (Name & Office in Corporation)