***EDIT***
Question suitably answered now.
Writer pay question
You probably should have a contract for that kind of thing, I would have thought.
Yes - I'd guess that for the benefit of both sides you should have drawn up a contract to protect both of you.
Quote: Mikey Jackson @ May 8 2010, 2:21 PM BSTHiya all,
Here's a copyright-stroke-pay query that me and Mrs Mikey were musing over last night...I'm currently working on a radio adaptation of a rough story idea/synopsis of one of my clients.
Basically, he is a radio presenter and wanted a freelance writer to create the script (which he will then produce and broadcast on his station) from the idea.As he is paying me now to write the adaptation, what would happen if he then decided to take it to Radio 4 and they accepted and broadcast it? (He's seeing this as a possibilty)
Would I be also paid by R4 as well for being essentially a co-writer?
Mikey he woud be selling the finished thing to Radio 4 as an independent producer - if he were to do so - so no. Radio 4 wouldn't pay you - he would and if it's a buy out type contract as a pen for hire that's pretty much it.
As he is paying me now to write the adaptation, what would happen if he then decided to take it to Radio 4 and they accepted and broadcast it? (He's seeing this as a possibilty)
Would I be also paid by R4 as well for being essentially a co-writer?
You should have asked this question before you undertook the assignment, not halfway through.
Any potential 'selling on' fees should have been negotiated in contract discussions. That's just good (somewhat obvious!) business sense.
As things stand: presenter pays Mikey a small, token fee to adapt an idea. Client then takes finished piece to Radio 4 (where they may have contacts) and sells it on ... for a lot more than he paid the commissioned writer. Without a contract, you receive none of this money.
In short: Mikey does most of the hard work, client steps in ... and reaps all of the financial rewards.
Client = 
Mikey = >_<
Well - as it says at the bottom 50% of something etc...
Actually Dave Stewart echoed my sentiment on Jonathan Ross's radio show this morning although he said 5% of something is better than 100% of nothing.
It might be too late to make any dough out of this, but you should certainly try to nail him down on a writing credit.
And if you're doing the writing, you are the writer - not co-writer.
If it did make it on to mainstream media it would nice to have your name attached and under the noses of the right people.
Good luck.
Quote: Chappers @ May 9 2010, 12:13 AM BSTWell - as it says at the bottom 50% of something etc...
Actually Dave Stewart echoed my sentiment on Jonathan Ross's radio show this morning although he said 5% of something is better than 100% of nothing.
And:
Too much of nothing
Can make a man ill at ease ...
Thanks for the replies.
It's a typical "writer for hire" contract, plus includes a credit as the writer of the adaptation.
Yeah, anyway, onto more important matters ...
Is the radio presenter in question - Pat Sharp?
the writers guild website have lots of guidance on this and many other pay related questions asked on here.
have a look when you get chance.
Quote: Lazzard @ May 9 2010, 9:32 AM BSTAnd if you're doing the writing, you are the writer - not co-writer.
Exactly.
Quote: SlagA @ May 11 2010, 11:07 AM BSTExactly.
Trying to get a writing credit on my post, eh?
I'll settle for Associate Developer. 