Remix becomes property of original artist?
I did a remix for a friend, and he sent me a simple agreement to sign and mail back to him. Here's what the agreement says:
----------------------------------------------
"*1. Musical Contribution.*
Remixer has at the request of "Artist" made the following musical contribution: Remix of the master sound recording: �xxxx� by Artist (hereinafter referred to as "Master")
*2. Ownership of Master*
Master shall be property of Artist, free of claims
*3. Territories*
Universe
*4. Publishing*
Remixer does hereby relinquish all claims to any publishing rights.
*5. Royalties*
50% of actual income received by Artist for exploitation of Master, which shall include digital sales."
-------------------------------------
It appears I will be agreeing to give totally ownership to my friend, referred to as the artist. I will get 50% royalties, but I am relinquishing all claims to any publishing rights. Is this standard practice for remixes? I understand that a remix is a reworking of another artist's original material, but it is still, in a sense, an original work. Why would the remixer have no rights to publishing?
If this is the way things are typically done, I'll accept it. I guess I just had no idea it was done that way. I know people pay for remixes to be done, and the remixer sells the remix to the artist. I'm guessing the remixer is selling the song outright to the artist, giving the artist total ownership. The same must apply to remixes down at no charge.
Anyway, the relinquishing of publishing rights is what bothers me. I'm sure you people here will know if this is typical.
|