For a while now I’ve been examining the top ten funniest self-publishing contractual clauses from competitors and dissecting what the legalese means and why it’s “funny.” We’re to number four…
4th Funniest Clause from the Competitor’s Contract – We may disclose or use Feedback for any purposes whatsoever without any obligation (including any financial obligation) to you. In addition, if you are participating in a beta program, you agree to provide us with any reports we request and to promptly respond to any and all reasonable inquiries, questionnaires, surveys and other test documents we submit to you.
What it means: If you give them any ideas to improve their business or company, they won’t pay you, and if they ask you to do work for them (like running reports or answering questions), you have to do it.
Why it’s funny: The first part is reasonable, although it’s entertaining that they even felt the need to include it in a contract, but the second part is ridiculous. Customers don’t have to run reports for companies and answer surveys offered by publishers, and putting that in a contract doesn’t make it any more likely that people will do what they don’t want to do.
Wouldn’t you rather publish your book with Outskirts Press, where we work for you, rather than the other way around?
Next week, the top 3….
President of Outskirts Press 