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From the TOKYOPOP Pilot Program Team, Paul Morrissey & Hope Donovan

Take a look at this link for a good, honest breakdown of the terms:

http://www.bradfox.com/blog/2008/05/bryan-lee-omalley-and-case-of-the-tokyopop-pilot-pandemonium/

Batman3777 wrote:

Take a look at this link for a good, honest breakdown of the terms: http://www.bradfox.com/blog/2008/05/bryan-lee-omalley-and-case-of-the-tokyopop-pilot-pandemonium/

thanks for that. the article and particularly the comments really helped my understanding.

I note that they don't respond to the widespread criticism that (a) they wrote the contract in a hilariously unprofessional ludicrous down-wit'-the-kidz style in an effort to make it seem that Tokyopop would never rip you off because Tokyopop is your buddy , that (b) they not only expect anyone signing the contract to give up their moral rights but then go on to justify this by suggesting, in a casually racist manner, that moral rights aren't important because, uhm, they're a "fancy" French idea and that (c) their contracts are worse (according to half a dozen different comic artists and journalists) than those of any other company in the comics business.

This isn't meant to downplay peoples' concerns or their dislike of the contract in question. But consider this: TP is one of the few legit companies that is actually willing to give unproven talent a shot. It's no surprise that it comes with conditions.

From what I've seen, their contracts, however lopsided, aren't too different from various writing contests I used to see pitched when I was in college nearly 20 years ago. They are designed for two reasons: for the newbie creator, it could be your big break (and if so, itll happen more quickly than it would through most other methods), and for the company, it's a way to harvest useful intellectual property that they can profit from.

I think TokyoPop is reasonable. They are not demanding further contract from the artists other than 30 page pilot.

Here is a company that is willing to shell out its money to test out unproven material, all we hear is whines and complaints. Can't stand those contract clauses? Then publish your own pilot manga on the internet and see how many hits you get within a month.