the artist's J.D.

4 days ago

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2 min read

🦅 Client wants full ownership + question to ask in return + your weekly roundup

POSTSLINKSRECOMMENDATIONS

Hi Reader!

One of the reasons that I love systems and scripts is that I’m an overthinker. I’ll rewrite the same email response multiple times, fretting about commas, word placement, and whether it’s clear enough while still being professional and enforcing my boundaries.

Scripts not only help me with my overthinking, but also prevent me from agreeing too quickly because I don’t want a drawn-out conversation. They also give me professional and firm language I trust to push back.

The most common script I use in my law firm is my “No, that team member isn’t an independent contractor” script. (If you have team members, this is the #1 mistake creative business owners make when building their teams.)

Your most common script will probably be different. But it might align more with the #1 script I help clients create: the response to a client's request for full copyright ownership.

When I help clients create this script, I tell them to pull up the five most recent emails they sent back to a client after this request.

Why? Because they help us spot the patterns of what language to use (and where they might be overexplaining or agreeing too quickly).

Then I remind them that their job in this email isn’t to give an answer, but to get curious and make sure you 100% understand what the client needs.

So, depending on where you are in the process, you might be able to send a response as simple as:

  1. Can you walk me through how you are planning on using this?
  2. Based on what you shared, it sounds like you are planning on using the deliverables [fill in the blank]. Is that correct?

So pull up some recent emails, spot any patterns you see, and write a simple curiosity-based script that you can experiment with the next time this email lands in your inbox.

(And if you want the full context on why clients default to this request and how you should reframe it, I break it down in this week’s video.)

👉 Your action item

What’s the #1 script you need in your business right now? Hit reply and let me know so I can cover it in an upcoming email.

If you only have 20 minutes this week, the task above is the most important thing to do. But if you have a little more time, keep reading.

Chat soon,

The clause to notice

One small section of a contract that can have an outsized impact later.

This week’s clause: Ownership

One thing to look for: When something is a true work for hire, you never own the copyright; the client owns it from the moment you create it. So if you are agreeing to a work for hire arrangement, you need to be very clear what is covered by the work for hire. Otherwise, the client will own preliminary sketches for concepts they reject.

👉 Open the Contract Decoder​

LATEST VIDEO

What to say when a client asks for more rights than you’re comfortable giving

A client says they need full ownership, and you can feel the tension immediately. This walks through how to respond, how to ask the right questions, and how to offer alternatives that keep the project moving.

Protect the business you’ve worked so hard to build

Each Friday, get a focused, jargon-free legal task, designed for creative entrepreneurs who want to protect their ass(ets) without legal confusion. No fluff, no overwhelm. Each one takes 15–30 minutes and helps you handle what matters, without wasting time on what doesn’t.

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