Re: [Harp-L] PFOS song writing contest contract

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

captron100@xxxxxxx wrote:

<As most of us know, there is a documentary on harmonica in the works, 
<called "Pocket Full of Soul", and they have offered a song contest, the 
<winner to have his/her song used in the film. No monetary compensation 
<was offered.
<After it stirred some debate on this list, the owners of the film (who 
<are said to be nice people) had their lawyer re-write the original 
<contract to make it less unfavorable to the songwriters.
<After PFOS revealed on Harp-L that some well known song writers 
<submitted songs, i got inspired and submitted my own. They later asked 
<all submitters to send in their names and addresses again, so they 
<could "send everyone something".
<I rec'd my envelope as i was leaving on a trip and didn't get to study 
<it, but it didn't contain the PFOS T-shirt i had hoped for!  My 
<envelope contained a check for $1 and forms to sign to enable me
<to forfeit any claims i have to the song, either forever or for 5 years 
<(i forget).  I assume every other songwriter received the same <contract
<  I wasn't looking for compensation if my song was chosen, but it 
<seems to me that the PFOS people want to own not just the rights to the 
<song that wins the contest, but the rights to every song submitted.  So 
<even if our song isn't chosen to be in the movie, we cannot use it for 
<our own commercial purposes?
<Comments?

Yeah, I have a comment.  Don't sign that contract unless you want 
somebody else to own all rights in your work in return for $1.

Someone apparently forgot to tell the lawyer who re-wrote the contract 
that it was supposed to be LESS unfavorable to the songwriters.  I can't 
imagine terms less favorable to the songwriter than what is described 
above.  To put it bluntly, this is a blatant ripoff.

Whether this is deliberate or not, I can't say.  I can only repeat that 
the terms above are as bad as can be, and anyone who signs such a 
contract is asking for heartbreak.

Regards,
Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com
harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
Latest mp3s always at http://broadjam.com/rhunter