So, I'm launching two webcomics...

[Jakew]

... with two different artists. I came up with the story, characters and script for one, the other I'm co-creator and scripting. Both are original ideas, not based on any existing properties. How do I cover myself in terms of copyright?

[Glitch Girl]

While this may not be your cheapest option, this is probably your safest - talk to a lawyer.  Another web-comic writer mentions something like this in his blog  though he focuses more on protecting himself from accidental infringement on existing ideas.  Even so, it may be worth it in the long run.

[Jakew]

Hmm...

[Viking]

When multiple people are contributing to a copyrightable work, they are often viewed as joint owners of the copyright.  Each of them would then have the same rights to exploit the copyright (e.g., by giving other people permission to make copies of and sell and distribute the work), and the same responsibilities to give their partners an equal share of what they make from exploiting the work.  So, for a comic book, multiple people can be joint owners if they're making an indispensable contribution to the whole of the work - for example, the person who writes the story and dialogue, the person who pencils the artwork, the person who inks it into black-and-white, and the person who colors the artwork.

Now, when you're working with collaborators, you probably want to get a written contract that spells out what everybody is contributing.  This serves as recognition as to everybody's contribution, and what the agreed intention is between everybody.  For example, it may be that one person insists, "I've come up with the story, and what the characters should look like, and I'm providing half of the artwork.  My contribution should be worth more than the partner who is only responsible for drawing a fourth of the artwork."  And that's fine - if you can get the partners to all agree on how much each person's contribution is worth.

At the minimum, a signed agreement between the partners makes it clear that each of the partners is contributing something, so that none of them can claim that they were responsible for the whole thing.  Beyond that, the partners are free to bargain over how they want a contract to spell out what rights and obligations they have between one another.

Another element that is probably worth figuring out how to get fixed in writing - what happens if the partners don't want to work together on the project any more?  For example, Persons A and B have produced a comic for a few years, but Person B has gotten tired and just can't keep up with the project any more.  Person A still wants to produce the project, and wants to bring in New Person C to keep the project alive.  But Person B presumably still has a valid copyright share in the project, as future comics may still be built on the foundation that he has helped provide.

Having a lawer experienced in drafting these sorts of contracts would be great, simply because they have the value of experience to be able to say, "These are the sorts of issues that could possibly happen in the future, and here are some suggestions as to how partners might otherwise agree to handle such a situation."  But if your current situation is that your project is a labor of love, and you don't have the budget for a lawyer right now, but you want to be protected in case this project does become successful... Then you want to do the best you can in terms of contemplating various "What If" scenarios, getting the partners to agree on how they should be handled, and then getting it written down so that you don't spend huge amounts of money on lawyers arguing about it in court in the future.

[Jakew]

Thanks for the advice guys!  Also, http://the-succession-plan.tumblr.com/

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Congrats, Jakew!

I simply must ask:

Two webcomics 150 miles apart are launched at the same time, traveling toward each other along the same information superhighway. The first webcomic goes 60 miles per hour; the second webcomic rushes along at 90 miles per hour. A reader is hovering just above the cover of the first webcomic.  S/he rushes from the first webcomic to the second webcomic, turns around immediately, rushes back to the first webcomic, and turns around again. S/he goes on flitting back and forth between the two webcomics until they collide.  If the reader's speed is 120 miles per hour, how far will s/he travel?





As I said, congratulations!

ow_tiobe_sb

[herodad1]

no where? S/he sitting in the same seat?