Legal Online Partnership

[SteveDave]

This doesn't have much to do with MC or anything but I figured someone might know more about this than I do.

I recently have been offered to go into a partnership with someone on making a game. Basically, one does graphics while the other does coding and each person takes 50% of the earnings.

Now, should there be more than just a mutual agreement on say a instant messenger? I mean, that's pretty weak evidence of having an official partnership. If one person were to get greedy and change all the site information, what exactly could you do about this? Would that be illegal, or is there a way to make it illegal by making some type of online contract?

Thanks in advance :-)

[Dazza]

Re: Legal Online Partnership

Im alittle inexperienced about 'online law' so I suggest you get a contract written up and sent (via snail mail if he's not local to you) signed and recieved - With you both keeping a copy.

Im sure google has many good templated but you basicly want it to cover:

your job roles

amount of capital invested

stake of partnership i.e 50% each for how long?

Details about what if one person leaves

Details about if business fails and/or is sold

Basicly as much as you can add into it, makes it better and make sure everything is covered. What if he wants to hire someone and expects you to pay half? etc I could go on and on.

Drop me a PM if you want to talk more about business matters as I have experience, but things online or proceedings between developers may be different to the knowlege I have.

[famulus]

Re: Legal Online Partnership

You can get a cheap partnership agreement at http://www.urgentbusinessforms.com/partnership_agreement.asp.

In the end, the only real way to protect yourself is to make constant backups and make sure you control the domain. Last year I lost three months of work and a game making $700+ a month to a bad partner. It's always going to be easier to put yourself in a position where it can't happen than try to take legal action against a deadbeat or a kid in another state.