Focal Press' Pocket Lawyer series serves as a legal toolkit for independent producers and artists in the creative industries.

The Pocket Lawyer for Comic Book Creators is designed to help emerging artists and veteran professionals in the comic book industry build a solid foundation of business and communication practices that they need to thrive in today's ever-changing, uncertain world of indie comics. Readers will learn to protect their copyrights, negotiate publishing deals, hire artists so everyone wins, and learn the ins and outs of key contracts with this helpful resource.

Disclaimer

Acknowledgements

Dedication

About the Author and Contributors

PART I: Quick Start

FAQs

Getting Started

The Structure of the Book

How to Use this Book

The Audience for this Book

PART II: The Creative Process

Chapter 1: Intellectual Property

Chapter 2: Copyright Law

PART III: Contracts: The Engine Which Drives the Deal

Chapter 3: Contracts: Getting into Gear

Part IV: Putting It Together

Chapter 4: The Solo Creator

Chapter 5: Setting up Shop

Chapter 6: Collaboration

Chapter 7: Hiring Other Artists

Chapter 8: Clearances and Licensing the Rights of Others

Part V: Getting It out There

Chapter 9: Blog It! Tweet It! Post It! Promote It!

Chapter 10: Landing a Publisher

Chapter 11: Working for a Publishing Company

Chapter 12: The Comic Book Publishing Agreement

Chapter 13: Self-Publishing

Chapter 14: What Happens When Something Goes Wrong?

Part VI: The Law Library

Appendix A: A Comic Creator's Guide to Copyright Law

Appendix B: A Comic Creator's Guide to Protecting Ideas

Appendix C: A Comic Creator's Guide to Trademark Law

Appendix D: A Comic Creator's Guide to the Right of Publicity & Other Privacy Rights

Appendix E: A Comic Creator's Guide to Libel and Defamation

Appendix F: A Comic Creator's Guide to Moral Rights & the Visual Artists Rights Act

Appendix G: Contract Anatomy for Comic Book Creators

Appendix H: Famous Comic Book Cases

Appendix I: Online Resources