Master Services Agreement for Copywriters: What to Include (Customizable Template)

Introduction

A well-crafted Master Services Agreement (MSA) can be a game changer for copywriters working on multi-phase projects. With a clear contract in place, we can manage approvals and handoffs smoothly, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Customize your Master Services Agreement now to set the foundation for successful collaborations.

Legal Terms: What Matters Most for Copywriters

IP Ownership

• Ensure you retain ownership of your intellectual property (IP) until the client has paid all fees. This protects your work from being used without compensation.
• Include clauses that explicitly prevent clients from feeding your work into AI models to avoid misuse of your creative outputs.
• Clearly outline attribution requirements in your contract. When should credit be given? Consider keeping source files while granting limited rights to use your work.

Revision Limits and Payment Milestones

• Set a cap on the number of revisions, making it clear how these will be handled. This helps manage expectations on both sides.
• Define acceptance criteria so that both you and the client know when work is considered complete.
• Create a straightforward payment milestone schedule that aligns with project phases. This ensures you get paid on time as each milestone is met.

Scope Creep and Change Orders

• Establish clear triggers for when a change order is needed. This protects you from unwarranted additions to your workload without proper compensation.
• Provide pricing guidance for changes to the scope, ensuring clients understand that extra work may incur additional fees.
• Include language about how schedule impacts may arise from change orders to set realistic timelines.

Other Helpful Clauses for Copywriters

• Consider including portfolio rights, allowing you to showcase your work in your portfolio after the project ends.
• Limit your liability to protect yourself from excessive claims. This ensures you aren't held responsible for unforeseen issues that arise from your work.

How Counsel Club Helps

Counsel Club re-imagines legal for startups, freelancers, and creative entrepreneurs. Our platform allows you to search for lawyer-drafted forms for startups, freelancers, content creators, and other creative entrepreneurs. Our platform guides you through modifications, both to the contract and the scope of work. Counsel Club has the most sophisticated drafting tool on the market, and it was designed and developed by lawyers. If you want more help, reach out to a Counsel Club lawyer through our Concierge program. Our legal agent, Amicus, was trained on proprietary legal data to be your best legal assistant. Finally, legal for today, that is fast, protective, and cost effective.

Questions to Ask Amicus

• What rights do I have regarding my intellectual property?
• How can I structure revisions to avoid excessive changes?
• What should I do if the project scope changes after signing the agreement?

Closing CTA

Ready to create your Master Services Agreement? Pair it with statements of work for clear project guidelines. Customize your Master Services Agreement now for a successful future in your copywriting career.