Contract Highlights:

The terms of Meredith's contract are sweeping, calling for the artist to "vest all copyright and ownership rights in the WORKS (your artwork) in Meredith including, but not limited to, all copyright, all extensions of copyright, all copyright renewal rights, all derivative rights, and all rights to reproduce, publish, perform, and display the WORKS in any and all devices, media or modes of communication, whether now known or hereafter created, throughout the universe."

Note: when the word "all" appears in a single sentence six times, it's a safe bet the contract is an All-Rights contract.

Well, that covers all copyright issues, all right. But Meredith goes even further, and demands ownership of the (physical media used to create the) work itself: boards, digital files, everything. "CREATOR hereby assigns and transfers all right, title, and interest in the WORK...to Meredith..." That means Meredith owns the physical work. The artist may still retain authorship of the work done for Meredith, but that's all they retain.

Artists should be aware that this is one of the most extreme all-rights contracts around. Essentially, you make it, they own it, lock, stock and barrel. Keep in mind that this means they are entitled to alter your work in any way they wish. Of course, it may not make a difference, since they are under no obligation to credit the artist, anyway. But if you sign this contract, the possibility exists that you may see a distorted or mutilated version of your work with your name on it.

Updated News:

Midwest Living magazine, published by Meredith Corporation, apparently has decided to make a great leap BACKWARD, from an all-rights contract to work-for-hire.

When we reviewed Meredith's contract, we found it to be unfair in the extreme, because it required the artist to give up all rights to the artwork. Now we learn that Midwest Living is attaching a "rider" to the Meredith blanket contract, and this rider redefines contributed artwork as "work made for hire."

Here's the rider:

"This agreement will confirm the work made for hire you have agreed to perform as follows pursuant to the Master Agreement signed by you earlier. The rights granted include the right to edit, alter, and modify the Work and to publish or authorize the publication of the Work in all devices, media or modes of communication, whether now known or hereafter created, throughout the universe."

Under a work-for-hire contract, the company that hires the artist becomes, for legal purposes, the creator of the artwork. The original artist can no longer claim authorship of the artwork. This means that the artist may not even display a work in his or her portfolio without the new "author's" permission!

We believe that work-for-hire agreements represent the worst possible terms under which artists can work, and we strongly encourage artists not to accept any work-for-hire agreement.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

When Meredith receives an invoice from an artist, the company responds by sending a purchase order to the artist. Included in this purchase order is this little contractual gem from Meredith:

"Unless otherwise provided in a separate written agreement...the following additional conditions also apply: The party accepting this order transfers and assigns to purchaser each and every right, title and interest of whatsoever nature to the property sold..."

Using a purchase order to impose contract terms for work already completed and accepted by the company is unfair at best and insidious at worst. Terms and conditions should be negotiated in advance of work, so an artist has the opportunity to accept or reject the offer.

ALSO SEE our review of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE CORPORATION contract, at the end of the RIGHTS GRANTED section.

Meredith Corporation appears to be going out of its way to treat its artists badly. We urge the company to take a look at these practices, and to start bringing some fairness to its contracts.