Agreement between DESIGNER and business or Individual.

The following is a sample Agreement between DESIGNER and business or Individual. By signing up as a client of XYZ Designs you are subject to the following terms and conditions.

GENERAL WORKING AGREEMENT

This document defines the terms and conditions of our working relationship. All projects or services that DESIGNER may be contracted to produce or provide for CLIENT will be subject to the following:

WORKING/BILLING PHASES

Based on our experience with long-term design communications projects, we have found that it is mutually advantageous to handle each project in logical working/billing phases.

Concept revisions, extensive alterations, or a switch in marketing objectives sometimes makes it impossible to accurately estimate in advance the total cost of a project. Planning the work, cost estimating, and billing in several phases permits DESIGNER or CLIENT to adjust for such revisions/or halt work before completion if a project is postponed or cancelled. Any cancelled project is billed only through phases and/or portions of phases that were actually completed by DESIGNER. For each project, CLIENT will receive a proposal/estimate outlining the project specifications and our proposed scope of services and working/billing phases. Each proposal estimate will contain a project budget, which includes estimated fees for professional services and separate itemized costs for anticipated out-of-pocket expenses.

PAYMENT/ESTIMATES

CLIENT agrees to pay DESIGNER in accordance with the terms specified in each proposal/estimate. Once estimate/proposal is approved work can begin.

Unless otherwise specified, all subsequent balances due are payable upon art approval. We reserve the right to refuse completion or delivery of work until past due balances are paid.

ESTIMATE

Billing will reflect the actual costs incurred. Client requested changes will be billed additionally. The client will be notified of any price changes.

OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES

Fees for professional services do not include outside purchases such as, but not limited to, printing, photography, color printouts, laminating, illustrations, separations, shipping and handling or courier service. Expenses are itemized on each invoice. If consultant or supervisory services are required in out-of-town locations, we will bill lodgings, meals, and transportation at cost. Reimbursement for mileage is calculated at current allowable rates.

REVISIONS AND ALTERATIONS

New work requested by CLIENT and performed by DESIGNER after a proposal/estimate has been approved is considered a revision or alteration. If the job changes to an extent that substantially alters the specifications described in the original estimate, we will submit a proposal revision memo to you, and a revised additional fee must be agreed to by both parties before further work proceeds.

NATURE OF COPY

CLIENT agrees to exercise due diligence in its direction to us regarding preparation of materials and must be able to substantiate all claims and representations. You are responsible for all trademark, service mark, copyright and patent infringement clearances. You are also responsible for arranging, prior to publication, any necessary legal clearance of materials we prepare.

REPRODUCTION OF WORK

The client assumes full reproduction rights upon payment for completed project.

All reproduction rights on the copyrighted work are retained by the designer. The work may not be reproduced in any form without consent from the designer.

The designer retains personal rights to use the completed project and any preliminary designs for the purpose of design competitions, future publications on design, educational purposes and the marketing of the designer’s business. Where applicable the client will be given any necessary credit for usage of the project elements.

PROPERTY AND SUPPLIER’S PERFORMANCE

DESIGNER will take all reasonable precautions to safeguard the property you entrust to us. In the absence of negligence on our part, however, we are not responsible for loss, destruction or damage or unauthorized use by others of such property. We will use our best efforts to ensure quality and timely delivery of all printed (offset, silk-screened, embossed or otherwise reproduced) pieces. Although we may use our best efforts to guard against any loss to you through the failure of our vendors, media, or others to perform in accordance with their commitments, DESIGNER is not responsible for failure on their part.

If you select your own vendors, other than those recommended by us, you may request that we coordinate their work. If at all possible, we will attempt to do so, but we cannot in anyway be held responsible for quality, price, performance or delivery.

RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP

Once a project has been delivered by us and is fully paid for by CLIENT, DESIGNER will assign the reproduction rights of the design for the use(s) described in the proposal.

According to the Copy right Law of 1976, the rights to all design and art work, including but not limited to photography and or illustration created by independent photographers or illustrators retained by DESIGNER, or purchased from a stock agency on your behalf, remain with the individual designer, artist, photographer or illustrator. Unless a purchase of “All Rights” (A Buyout) is negotiated with DESIGNER and/or his/her authorized representative, you may not use or reproduce the design or the images therein for a purpose other than the one(s) originally stipulated. If you wish to use the design we have created and/or the images within it for another purpose or project, including a reprint or exhibition, you must contact us to arrange the transfer of rights and any additional fees before proceeding.

We reserve the right to photograph and/or distribute or publish for our firms promotional and marketing needs any work we create for you, including mock-ups and comprehensive presentations, as samples for our portfolio, firm news letter, brochures, slide presentations and similar media. We agree to store mechanical boards and computer disks for a period of 6 months beyond the delivery of a job. There upon, we reserve the right to discard them.

REJECTION/CANCELLATION OF PROJECT

The client shall not unreasonably withhold acceptance of, or payment for, the project. If, prior to completion of the project, the client observes any non-conformance with the design plan, the designer must be promptly notified, allowing for necessary corrections. Rejection of the completed project or cancellation during its execution will result in forfeiture of deposit and the possible billing for all additional labour or expenses to date. All elements of the project must then be returned to the designer. Any usage by the client of those design elements will result in appropriate legal action. Client shall bear all costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney’s fees in any action brought to recover payment under this contract.

ERRORS AND OMISSIONS

It is the CLIENT’S responsibility to check proofs carefully for accuracy in all respects, ranging from spelling to technical illustrations. DESIGNER is not liable for errors or omissions. Your signature or that of your authorized representative is required on all mechanicals or artwork prior to release for printing or other implementation.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULES

Production schedules will be established and adhered to by both parties, provided that neither shall incur any liability, penalty or additional cost due to delays caused by a state of war, riot, civil disorder, fire, labour trouble or strike, accidents, energy failure, equipment breakdown, delays in shipment by suppliers or carriers, action of government or civil authority, and acts of God or other causes beyond the control of both parties. Where production schedules are not adhered to by the Client, final delivery date or dates will be adjusted accordingly.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGREEMENT

This agreement is our entire understanding and may not be modified in any respect except in an executed agreement. If we must retain attorneys to collect our invoices, we will be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, and interest at the maximum rate permitted by law.