Legitimate Free Legal Blog.
You be the judge and jury of the latest news!

Apr 09, 2013

Work Made for Hire Contract

In many countries it is a requirement to have an agreement in place that specifically designates commissioned work as work made for hire if the person/company who commissioned the work wants to claim the copyright in such work.

Even in an employment situation employers should not assume that they automatically own copyright in their employees' creative work.

In some jurisdictions the law is quite clear in defining work made for hire but elsewhere it may be open to interpretation.

The best approach is to have a written agreement in place regardless whether it appears obvious as to who owns the copyright!

Continue reading "Work Made for Hire Contract"

Apr 01, 2013

Non-Solicitation and No-Competition Agreements

A company's assets go way beyond tangible goods. There is substantial value in a company's client list. Equally, its employees often represent a major financial investment on the part of the company, e.g. sourcing, training, etc.

The purpose of a Non-Solicitation agreement is to protect those assets against unfair advantage from a competitor.

This may happen when an employee leaves the company and by soliciting fellow employees will not only gain from their experience, but will also have access to any confidential information that they may have.

An ex-employee may also attempt to solicit business from a company's customer base. Knowledge of the company's pricing structure, suppliers, marketing plans etc. will constitute an unfair advantage to a former employee.

Having a Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement in place is vital to protect these assets!

Continue reading "Non-Solicitation and No-Competition Agreements"

Mar 25, 2013

When is a Restraint of Trade Enforceable?

It is acceptable for a company or franchise or employer to want to protect a company's business interests.

The keywords here are what is "reasonable" and are there "proven business interests" that warrant protection.

Review our guidelines on how to go about drafting your legal agreement.

Continue reading "When is a Restraint of Trade Enforceable?"

Mar 18, 2013

Work Made for Hire

Employers, employees and freelancers all need to understand their rights when it comes to "work-for-hire".

We address some of the important issues such as:

• Who owns the Copyright?
• What are Moral Rights and can they be waived?
• WHEN do you need a Work for Hire Agreement?

...and more.

Continue reading "Work Made for Hire"

Mar 12, 2013

Non-disclosure Agreement for Inventions

It is a requirement in patent registration for the invention to be new and you cannot be disclosing information about your invention without caution.

However, you may need to consult with a potential investor, marketer or manufacturer before you can fully develop your idea.

In these situations you will need a non-disclosure agreement to safely reveal your confidential information.

Take a look at our sample document to help you streamline your thoughts.

Continue reading "Non-disclosure Agreement for Inventions"

Mar 07, 2013

Employee Confidentiality Agreement

Most companies have proprietary and confidential information that they would not want to become publicly known, such as:

• Business plans, records, training manuals, policies and procedures;
• Marketing strategies and customer lists;
• Product information, processes and technology;
• Trade secrets

...to name but a few.

Our free non-disclosure agreement helps to formalize the obligations of the employee to keep such information confidential.

Continue reading "Employee Confidentiality Agreement"

Jan 31, 2013

Free Employment Application Form

Legal guidelines and a free employment application form to gather specific information required, with permission to verify details and check references.

Continue reading "Free Employment Application Form"

Dec 10, 2012

How to Formalize a Personal Loan Agreement

So often a loan is extended to a friend or family member without recording the details and the repayment terms. This is all fine and well until things go wrong and there's a dispute!

It is not difficult to draw up a loan agreement. Take a look at our guidelines covering:

• The various repayment options
• Whether to charge interest and what to do if you choose not to.

Then use one of our many free Promissory Note templates to assist you with your document.

Continue reading "How to Formalize a Personal Loan Agreement"

Nov 20, 2012

Free Legal Forms Site Map - a Complete List of Contracts.

Our free legal forms site map shows the extensive list of free legal documents, contracts and agreements available on our site. No login or sign-up required.

Continue reading "Free Legal Forms Site Map - a Complete List of Contracts."

Nov 12, 2012

Reduce the Risk When Extending a Loan

There are a couple of ways to help ensure the repayment of a loan:

• Enter into a Security Agreement where goods are pledged as collateral or security against a loan;
• Enter into a Guaranty Agreement with a third party who undertakes to assume full responsibility for the loan, should the original borrower(s) default.

We've drafted a variety of free promissory notes to make provision for collateral kept by either the borrower or lender, the co-signing of a loan agreement or a separate agreement with a guarantor.

Continue reading "Reduce the Risk When Extending a Loan"

Nov 06, 2012

How to Write a Will - Guidelines and Free Will Forms

We all agree that it's important to make time to get our affairs in order.

Making a will is one of those tasks that you should not leave for "tomorrow".

Take a look at our selection of free Last Will and Testament templates to assist you with streamlining your thoughts when drafting your document.

Continue reading "How to Write a Will - Guidelines and Free Will Forms"

Oct 09, 2012

Referral Agreement - Clearly Defining the Terms

Entering into a referral agreement can be financially beneficial to a Company and the Agents promoting its products.

The Company can increase its presence in the market without incurring additional overheads and an Agent can earn money without having to carry inventory.

The key to a mutually beneficial relationship is in a fair value exchange and for both parties to understand exactly what the expectations and rewards are - and to have that in writing.

Review our sample legal document to assist you with compiling your agreement.

Continue reading "Referral Agreement - Clearly Defining the Terms"

Sep 24, 2012

Free Affidavit Forms and Templates

There are so many instances where we have need of an affidavit to give statements under oath or attest to facts under penalty of perjury.

Affidavits generally follow a standard format in most countries so it is actually quite simple to show you how to write an affidavit.

We also provide a variety of commonly used free affidavit forms which you can download and edit to suit:

Continue reading "Free Affidavit Forms and Templates"

Sep 18, 2012

Landlord Forms for Effective Property Management

We believe in the merits of investing in property as part of retirement planning.

We also believe in the merits of being hands-on landlords and personally managing our tenants.

We've compiled a variety of free legal forms that can assist you as landlord.

Visit this page for an overview of what's available:

Continue reading "Landlord Forms for Effective Property Management"

Aug 27, 2012

The Importance of Employment Contracts

Having the right contracts in place in the workplace not only defines and protects the rights of the employer and employee, it can also protect the rights and assets of the company.

Clauses that cover non-disclosure, copyright, patent rights, restraint of trade etc. need to be in place where necessary.

Supporting documents such as employee evaluations and warning letters which show correct procedure before dismissal, are invaluable in case of disputes.

Take a look at our selection of free employment forms:

Continue reading "The Importance of Employment Contracts"