Here’s a question that keeps popping up in my conversations with creators:
What’s the difference between a “work made for hire” and when I assign my copyright to someone else? In both cases I no longer own the copyright, so what’s the difference?… Read More
Have you ever felt like a jerk because a client asked for something you hadn’t originally agreed on and you said no? Even though you were totally in the right?
Or because a client, who was over a month late in paying you, got upset about the late fee you charged them?
If you have, or if you feel intimidated when you have to enforce … Read More
Most freelancers don’t start working for themselves because they want the opportunity to be constrained in their work. They aren’t looking for limits or extra hurdles to jump.
As a result many freelancers don’t have policies for their business. They don’t have rules about what their business will and won’t do, what they’ll accept from their clients and what they won’t.
But what they don’t … Read More
A check was due two days ago, but the client’s really nice and has never been late before….
The invoice is due in three days and you haven’t heard from the client since it went out….
You can’t bill the client until they sign off on the last round of revisions but no one will respond to your emails…
…when should you start worrying about … Read More
I’ve spent the last week cajoling a five year-old to put her face in the water at swim lessons.
She thinks I’m absolutely, 100% insane crazy.
It will hurt her eyes. She’ll get water in her ears. How will she breathe? What if the other kids laugh at her? It’s scary!
I can tell her a bazillion times that it will be OK, but … Read More
When does it make sense to use the other side’s contract and when should you push for using your own? Why does it matter and how do you figure out what to do?… Read More
As a lawyer who makes a living reading, writing and revising contracts it’s in my best interest to tell you that contracts are incredibly important and if you don’t have a contract your clients will get away with murder.
And that’s true.
But also not.… Read More
You’re in the middle of a weird coding issue that is jamming up the launch of a client’s new site when your phone rings.
It’s one of your other clients, Jane, who always seems to have “unique” problems.
Against your better judgement you answer.
She’s calling to complain about your most recent invoice. She doesn’t think it should have taken you half as long as … Read More