Online Contract Archive?

ChrisKnight asks: "There are a number of places to search on the 'net when looking for a boiler plate software license. I was wondering if anyone maintained a site of boiler plate consulting contracts? I've been given a stock developer's contract to sign for a project that is just generic sysadmin work. I'm not 'creating IP' for them, so much of the contract is not appropriate. I'd like to find something I can counter with, something that treats what I am going to be doing similiar to the work of an auto mechanic. Any suggestions on where to look?"

Comments

Yup

[itwerx]

Guru.com
Techrepublic.Com

I'm giving you top links rather than deep ones because these sites have a LOT of other good info which it would behoove you to run across on your way to finding them. :)

Re:Yup

[Anonymous Coward]

Why is this modded over-rated?

Re:Yup

[ChrisKnight]

Thanks itwerx!

The Guru link was a bit of a dud. I spent 20 minutes getting through their registration to find that their best contract resource was a link to the Nolo Press book. I already knew that one. :)

TechRepublic was much more useful. They had a template contract that I feel adapts quite well for use as a SysAdmin contract.

Since I would be a troll if I didn't contribute to a thread that I started, here is my current revision of a SysAdmin Contract.

I would love to get some feedback on it.

Thanks!

-Chris

The prophesy has come true!

[oni]

Behold, Deadmeat did spake unto us saying:

Ask Slashdot: What's This 'Search Engine' Thing I Keep Hearing So Much About?

And lo, it has come to pass.

Software Consulting Contracts

[trixillion]

Findlaw.com provides a lot of real world contracts for free at:
http://allbusiness.findlaw.com/type/operations/ser vices.html
http://allbusiness.findlaw.com/industries/technolo gy/programming.html

I have used these contracts as a resource for understanding what terms are typical and find them to be a very useful starting point for building a contract with lawyers. You should always run your contracts by a lawyer before signing them.

I hope this helps.

Nolo

[m_niessner]

Nolo.com has a great book about software law which includes several prewritten contracts that contain alternative clauses. Each alternative is discussed so you can pick the right ones. It's not free, but at $30 its not that expensive.

OSI

[J'raxis]

The Open Source Initiative: Approved Licenses

online contract archive?

[StandardDeviant]

Sure, it's called a lawyer with an email address. No, seriously, if you think you can cookie-cutter your way through a deal with something you got off the web, you are FUCKED. Game over, do not pass GO and most certainly do not collect $200. You just don't play a game without learning the rules! (Not if you want to win, anyway.) So get smart and hire a local lawyer who has a clue. Even if they aren't a techie, point them at the sites listed by other posters.

I've got sort of a business minor in addition to my normal electron herding (computer science and chemistry, weee!!). I can tell you the two most important things I learned were: hire a good lawyer and hire a good accountant. Becuase no matter how smart we are at tech stuff, that doesn't qualify us in those arenas and the potential penalties for error are grave.