Like you, I receive the emails every week. They spell out a golden “opportunity” which allows me to write for an emerging content site.

Inevitably, the arc of the communication is predictable; it always ends at a place where the site gets the content, and the writer gets screwed.

What’s remarkable is how many people tumble for this scam – where they work for free, so others can monetize their content.

Somebody’s Lost Their Marbles

This particular pitch came from a new sporting site called MarblePlay.com. Launching sometime this fall, the site’s feature list was impressive. The pitch aggressive. And the flattery apparent.

But there was no mention of compensation.

In today’s “content’s free, no matter what the cost to the creator” environment, that’s a bad sign.

I have little interest in building wealth for others, but yes, I wondered where this gig fell on the Ripoff Richter Scale.

The editor forwarded the “Contributor’s Agreement.”

I read it. And then gave it a 10.2. (In terms of its rapaciousness, it moved heaven and earth).

First, compensation ranged from zero to… nothing. So what does our lucky writer get? Why, the chance to self-promote himself.

What does the lucky MarblePlay.com network get in return?

Amazingly, this was a “work for hire” agreement – the magic phrase that means you transfer all rights to the work you contribute to the site.

Simply put, they’d own your words, and you’d own… nothing. (Helpful hint – always looks for the words “work for hire” in anything you sign, and recognize what they mean.)

Astonishingly, it gets worse.

You Won’t Compete… For Free?!

Because simply giving the work away wasn’t quite enough, MarblePlay ushered in the concepts of regular deadlines and (wait for it)… a non-compete clause.

Which means I couldn’t work (for free or otherwise) for any competing sites.

Over the course of my entire career, I’ve signed exactly three non-compete clauses – and all in return for a sizable payout.

For free? Limit your right to work elsewhere, and do it for free?! (Imagine writing a book’s worth of content for this site – and then realizing you can’t publish that book because you didn’t own the words.)

A dozen comparisons leap to mind (most include lubricants). In truth, this agreement is so abusive, I’m not even sure it’s legal – a court would have to find that the “opportunity” to self promote rose to the level of real consideration.

Regardless, MarblePlay isn’t the only network doing this.

And the target clearly isn’t professional writers as much as amateurs willing to be seduced by a few kind words (and the writer’s equivalent of a crust of bread).

Still, this kind of thing is on the rise, not the decline, which suggests somebody is falling for it.

It’s one thing to write for free because you want your words to be seen.

It’s quite another to give that work away – along with the right to publish where you want – all in the interest of fattening someone else’s bank account.

Moral of the story?

  • Ask up front what’s in it for you.
  • Don’t sign any “work for hire” agreements unless you’re being compensated (my copywriting clients typically gain full rights to my copy, but they pay for that right)
  • If you sign a non-compete, you deserve to be compensated for your potential loss of income. Or just don’t sign.
  • Don’t work for free, especially when someone else stands to benefit

Keep writing, Tom Chandler.

Posted in Business of Freelancing, The Best Of the Underground, Underground Entertainment and tagged , , .