Writers Collaboration Agreement

Collaboration Agreement Between Writers

Agreement made on the day of , 20 , between of , and of , (hereinafter called the Parties).

Whereas, the Parties are about to collaborate in writing a/an (the Work); and

Whereas, the Parties desire to establish all their rights and obligations in and to the Work;

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. Collaboration

The Parties shall collaborate in the writing of the Work and on its completion, shall be the joint owners of the Work.

II. Copyright

On completion of the Work, it shall be registered with as the joint work of the Parties. If the Work is in a form that qualifies it for copyright, it shall be registered for copyright in the name of both Parties, and each Party designates the other as the Party's attorney-in-fact to register the work with the United States Copyright Office and to procure a renewal of copyright on behalf of the other Party when the original copyright period has expired.

III. Time of Completion

It is contemplated that the Work will be completed by not later than ; provided, however, that failure to complete the Work by this date shall not be construed as a breach of this Agreement on the part of either Party.

IV. Withdrawal from Collaboration

If, prior to the completion of the Work, either Party voluntarily withdraws from collaboration, then the other Party shall have the right to complete the Work alone or in conjunction with another collaborator or collaborators, and in that event the percentage of ownership, as provided in Section I, shall be revised by mutual agreement in writing or, failing such Agreement, by arbitration in accordance with the procedures described below.

V. Credit

Any contract for the sale or other disposition of the Work, where the Work has been completed by the parties in accordance with this Agreement, shall require that the story credit be given to the authors in the following manner:

VI. Sale of Share of Work

Neither Party shall sell, or otherwise voluntarily dispose of the Work, or the Party's share in the Work, without the written consent of the other, which consent, however, shall not be unreasonably withheld.

VII. Expenses

All expenses that are incurred by either or both of the Parties in connection with the writing, registration, sale or other disposition of the Work shall be shared jointly.

VIII. Application of Payment from Sale

All proceeds derived from the sale or other disposition of the Work shall be applied in the following order:

A. First, in payment of commissions, if any;

B. Second, in payment of any expenses or reimbursement of either Party for expenses paid in connection with the Work; and

C. Third, to the Parties in the proportion of their ownership.

IX. Rights Covered

It is agreed that for purposes of this Agreement the Parties shall share, unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, the proceeds from the sale or any other disposition of the Work and the rights and licenses in the Work, including, but not limited to, the following:

A. Motion picture rights;

B. Sequel rights;

C. Television rights;

D. Stage rights;

E. Radio rights; and

F. Book and magazine publication rights.

X. Revision after Sale

A. If the Work is sold or otherwise disposed of and, as an incident to such sale or other disposition, the parties are employed to revise the work or write a screenplay based on it, then the total compensation provided for in such employment agreement shall be shared by them equally.

B. If either Party is unavailable for the purposes of collaborating on such revision or screenplay, then the Party who is available shall be permitted to do the revision or screenplay and shall be entitled to the full amount of related compensation.

XI. Use of Work in Separate Venture

If either Party desires to use the Work, or any right in the Work or relating to it, in any venture in which such Party has a financial interest, whether direct or indirect, then the Party desiring so to do shall notify the other Party of that fact and shall afford the other Party the opportunity to participate in the venture in the proportion of the other Party's interest in the Work. If such other Party is unwilling to participate in the venture, the Party desiring to so proceed shall free to accept any and all income from such venture.

XII. Mandatory 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.