Standard contract language for sample ownership?
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- KVRAF
- 4330 posts since 20 Feb, 2004
I'm thinking about paying a local college student in the vocal dept. to do some vocals for a song which I'll record separately and mix in later.
Is there some kind of "standard" language you can put into a work-for-hire contract which specifies I have complete ownership of the vocals recorded in this way (so I won't have to pay royalties sometime down the line, etc.)?
Is there some kind of "standard" language you can put into a work-for-hire contract which specifies I have complete ownership of the vocals recorded in this way (so I won't have to pay royalties sometime down the line, etc.)?
A well-behaved signature.
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- KVRAF
- 6596 posts since 21 Jun, 2004 from Secret Underground Hideout
"No matter how much "student" helped sell this song, "student" won't get any more money" Always add a little "Ha ha" after that.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4330 posts since 20 Feb, 2004
Well, I'd also possibly like to incorporate the samples into my own sample library and use them as the basis for patches, etc. Just paying the singer a flat fee while transferring sample ownership avoids all sorts of licensing issues and the like. I believe this is the way that session musicians are hired as well (they have no rights or royalties in the song).
Come on now, is this really Evil in a League with Satan(tm)?
P.S. - What's Latin for "ha ha"? I may need that for the contract.
Come on now, is this really Evil in a League with Satan(tm)?
P.S. - What's Latin for "ha ha"? I may need that for the contract.
A well-behaved signature.
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- Mod-ulator
- 2895 posts since 31 Oct, 2000 from "Where I'm to, There I'll be"
College students can sing?
I always thaught the dropouts sang better dude!
haha
(Just kidding all you college music students )
I do believe if you draw a contract between the 2 of you... worded the way you want and if both of you sign it then you should be good...
But that said... College students who are singers that are also studying law ... may find ways to beat you out of that
good line ... "add a little haha"

I always thaught the dropouts sang better dude!
haha
(Just kidding all you college music students )
I do believe if you draw a contract between the 2 of you... worded the way you want and if both of you sign it then you should be good...
But that said... College students who are singers that are also studying law ... may find ways to beat you out of that
good line ... "add a little haha"
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4330 posts since 20 Feb, 2004
Thanks manytone, yeah I thought that it would be possible to do something like this, I just don't know what the actual wording should look like... Hiring a lawyer would probably be the thing to do if I'm really concerned...
androidlove is responsible for the "ha ha" line, should I credit him in the contract?
androidlove is responsible for the "ha ha" line, should I credit him in the contract?
A well-behaved signature.
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- KVRian
- 769 posts since 2 Apr, 2005
A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on. So if your student has no paper, he can't sue you at a late date. If he/she gets a written contract, that's when you have to really careful.
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- KVRAF
- 1972 posts since 6 Feb, 2005 from Canada
You had better go and see a lawyer to do the contrast. I believe it is the good way

