thread: 2012-03-03 : Ben Lehman: Caveat Scriba: Margret Weis Productions
On 2012-03-04, Bill Bodden wrote:
Not sure what axe is being ground here, but I've never had anything but a good relationship with the folks at Margaret Weis Productions. I worked on books in the Leverage line, and have been paid in full for my work long before publication.
As far as the whole issue of creator-owned products, in cases like these one often signs a contract to do work, in which it's spelled out quite clearly that this is work for hire and the creator is selling all rights to it by signing. Sure, I'd love to own every scrap of my writing outright, but the reality in everything other than indie publications - particularly with licensed products - is that, sometimes that's the deal. It's not at all shocking; experience outside of the gaming industry will bear this out as well.
Seriously, you've picked on one of the better companies in the business with regard to treating their freelancers fairly. Your outrage on behalf of the anonymous freelancers you mention is commendable, but your methods are frankly sloppy and equate to throwing a bomb; the innocent as well as any guilty parties will be hurt by your actions, and most regrettably, to no good effect.
Bill Bodden
bill.bodden@gmail.com
