Free Editorial Service Copyediting Agreement Template
Editorial Service Copyediting Agreement
This Editorial Service Copyediting Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of [Month Day, Year], by and between [Your Company Name], a company registered in the State of [Your State] with its principal place of business located at [Your Company Address] ("Service Provider"), and [Client Name], a client with an address at [Client Address] ("Client").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Client desires to engage Service Provider to perform editorial services as described below, and Service Provider agrees to provide such services under the terms of this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. SERVICES PROVIDED
Service Provider agrees to provide copyediting services ("Services") to Client as follows:
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Reviewing and editing written content for grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, consistency, and style;
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Ensuring adherence to a specified style guide (e.g., AP, Chicago, MLA, etc.) provided by Client or Service Provider’s default standards;
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Offering recommendations for improving clarity, readability, and flow;
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Correcting factual errors if they are apparent or significant to the clarity of the content;
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Ensuring that the content is grammatically correct, clear, and well-organized.
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The specific services to be provided by Service Provider shall include:
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Copyediting of [5 chapters of a book manuscript] totaling approximately [15,000] words;
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Proofreading of any draft or final document to ensure consistency in formatting, punctuation, and style;
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Providing feedback on sentence structure and overall readability of the manuscript;
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Offering suggestions for revisions when content needs reorganization or additional clarity.
The Client shall submit the content to be edited in a form that is compatible with the Service Provider's editing tools. All documents should be submitted in [Google Docs] unless otherwise agreed.
3. TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall commence on the date first written above and shall remain in effect until the completion of the services outlined in this Agreement, unless earlier terminated in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement.
4. PAYMENT TERMS
(a) Compensation
Client agrees to pay Service Provider a fee of $[0] per [hour] or a fixed project fee of $[0] for the services rendered under this Agreement. Payment shall be made in US Dollars.
(b) Payment Schedule
An initial deposit of [0]% is due upon signing of this Agreement. The remaining balance shall be paid upon completion of the editorial work, prior to the delivery of the final edited document(s).
(c) Late Payments
Invoices are due within [0] days of receipt. A late fee of [0]% per month will be charged on any balance unpaid after [0] days.
5. CONFIDENTIALITY AND COPYRIGHT
(a) Confidentiality
Both parties agree to treat all written content, documents, and any other materials exchanged during the term of this Agreement as confidential and proprietary. Service Provider will not disclose Client's work to any third party without the written consent of the Client, except as necessary to fulfill the services of this Agreement.
(b) Ownership of Work
Upon payment of all fees due under this Agreement, all edited content shall be the exclusive property of the Client. Service Provider retains no ownership rights over the edited material. Service Provider agrees not to reuse or distribute any work product related to the Client’s content without prior written consent from the Client.
6. TERMINATION
(a) Termination by Client
Client may terminate this Agreement at any time with written notice. If terminated prior to completion of the services, Client agrees to pay Service Provider for work completed up to the date of termination.
(b) Termination by Service Provider
Service Provider may terminate this Agreement if Client fails to make timely payments or violates any material provision of this Agreement. In the event of termination by Service Provider, Client is still obligated to pay for services rendered up to the date of termination.
7. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS
(a) Client's Warranties
Client warrants that all content provided to Service Provider is original and does not infringe on any third party's intellectual property rights. Client further warrants that they have the right to grant Service Provider access to any proprietary or confidential information necessary for the completion of the services.
(b) Service Provider's Warranties
Service Provider warrants that they will perform the services in a professional and workmanlike manner, consistent with industry standards.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Neither party shall be liable to the other for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, loss of profits or business interruption. The total liability of either party under this Agreement shall not exceed the amount of fees paid by Client to Service Provider under this Agreement.
9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Service Provider is an independent contractor and is not an employee of Client. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as creating an employer-employee relationship, partnership, or joint venture between the parties.
10. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
(a) Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of [Your State].
(b) Dispute Resolution
In the event of a dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the parties agree to attempt to resolve the dispute through informal negotiation. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, the parties agree to submit to binding arbitration in the jurisdiction of [Your State].
11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, and communications between the parties, whether written or oral, relating to the same subject matter.
12. AMENDMENTS
This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written document executed by both parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Editorial Service Copyediting Agreement as of the date first written above.
[Your Company Name]
By:
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Month Day, Year]
Client
By:
[Full Name]
[Title]
[Month Day, Year]
