Contract checking - for free
If your agent becomes your publisher, who will check your contract for you? Redhammer will – for free
“There is a rights grab going on at the moment”, says Redhammer’s Peter Cox, “that puts the California Gold Rush in the shade. Faced with an uncertain digital future, some literary agents have chosen to abuse their special position of trust with authors, and grab the authors’ digital publishing rights – for themselves. That’s legally dangerous, morally wrong, and tarnishes our whole profession.”
Redhammer’s position is clear. You cannot be both an agent to your author and your author’s publisher. To do so creates a massive conflict of interest. Redhammer believes in the increasingly vital role of the literary agent today as the author’s friend, business advisor and champion.
“The author whose agent becomes their publisher effectively loses an agent”, says Cox. “Who is going to give them impartial advice about their publishing contract? Well, as from today – we are.”
Redhammer’s Project FreeAgent allows authors in this position to confidentially submit details of their proposed publishing contract to Redhammer for evaluation.
This service is entirely free. Redhammer expects no compensation, nor any commission on the deal. “There are zero strings attached”, says Cox. “We feel this is simply the right thing to do. For authors, it’s like getting a second opinion – a confidential check to make sure the advice they’ve received is sound… and not heavily biased in the publisher-agent’s favour.”
“I’m sure we’ll lose money providing this free service,” says Cox. “But if we succeed in jolting a few agents into realizing that they can’t just plunder their authors’ publishing rights willy nilly – it will be worth it.”
How To Use This Service
You must currently be an author whose agent proposes to digitally publish your work himself or herself in order to use this service. We’re sorry, but we cannot check other kinds of publishing contracts for free.
The information you send us on this form will be treated confidentially. We will use it to contact you and make arrangements for the review of any proposals you may have been presented with for the digital publication of your work.
By contacting us and using this free service, you agree that our opinion will be treated in confidence, i.e. not shown to any third party for whatever reason.
The digital publishing realm is developing and changing very quickly. What is the norm one month may not be so the next!
Our opinion is for informational purposes only. Under no circumstances will The Redhammer Management Ltd or anyone acting on its behalf be liable for any loss or damage of any kind, however arising and whether caused by tort (including negligence), breach of contract, defamation or otherwise, even if foreseeable. We disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any opinion we may give you.
