Mighty Mercury Contributor’s Agreement
In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained it is understood and agreed as follows:
1.A contributor is anyone who contributes writing, photos, video, or other material to www.dscriber.com and its satellite websites and publications (herein, www.dscriber.com may be referred to as “dscriber” or “the site).”
2.The owners of the site are Michael de Yoanna and Chad DiPrince and will be further referenced as “the owners” or by name.
3.Michael de Yoanna shall be the chief editor of the site, responsible for and in charge of its editorial content. Chad DiPrince shall be the chief production artist of the site, responsible and in charge of its production and technological workings. The two shall also be co-publishers of the site, responsible for maintaining the site’s publication, its advertising revenue, marketing, and any spin-off websites or other media publications, such as print publications.
4.Contributors agree that what they are posting to the site is self-produced. They further agree that when referencing outside media articles or other “source” documents, they will provide links to those sources, citing them fully.
5.dscriber.com and contributors agree that the contributor is an independent contractor and that neither the contributor, nor his or her employees, shall be deemed to be employees of dsciber.com.
6.Contributors have the right to the material they post on the site and may sell it, or a portion of it, elsewhere and may do so with the assistance of dscriber.com as is necessary. They may also request that postings be removed, but must make the request in writing, providing an explanation.
7.Contributors agree to maintain an accurate and up-to-date bio page that will include a photograph (mug shot) and links to their works outside the site. Contributors may use pseudonyms but this practice is the exception and requires prior permission from the chief editor.
8.Contributors will share in any gross profits generated by the site. The gross profits will be split in the following way: Contributors will receive 60 percent of the gross profits to be divided among them based on the total number of hits their posts generate each fiscal quarter. For example, if the total number of hits received by all contributor posts during a quarter is 500,000 and a single contributor generated 100,000 of those hits, that contributor would receive one-fifth of 60 percent of the gross profits generated by dscriber.com during the relevant quarter.
9.The remaining 40 percent of the profits each quarter will go to the site’s owners: Michael de Yoanna and Chad DiPrince, who will be responsible for covering the site’s operating costs – including technological, editorial, promotional, and other costs – from that amount.
10.Contributors are responsible for checking their articles for factual accuracy before submitting them. If a contributor becomes aware of a factual discrepancy after their work has been posted to the site, the posting may be changed to reflect the correct information. The post would also be amended with a note stating that an earlier version of the story contained an error, indicating the nature of that error.
11.Contributors agree to use their Facebook accounts to communicate with dscriber.com and each other.
12.Contributors agree to make regular postings to the site—roughly twice a week. Contributors who fail to make regular posts may have their accounts disabled after 90 days.
13.The owners of the site agree to promote the site and to help promote the works of contributors, especially when it may promote the site.
14.Contributors agree to promote their own outside work and the site as is possible.
15.Dscriber.com reserves the right to offer for sale contributions through the Describer Licensing Program. Interested outside publishers will be asked to place a bid on an item they want to purchase. Dscriber will contact the contributor to discuss the terms and publication. Contributors reserve the right to decline a sale. In the event of a sale, dscriber.com will claim a 20 percent commission. Such commissions will be part of Dscriber’s general profits and shared with contributors as outlined in profit-sharing stipulations elsewhere in this agreement.
16.Contributors may reside wherever they desire and may post to the site from any remote location. Contributors, agree however, that they are writing for a national/international audience and will seek to tailor their contributions accordingly.