SAMPLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
Date___________
Gentlemen:
The following will confirm the agreement between Yankee Classic Pictures ("YCP") and _______________________ ("_____"):
1. YCP agrees to furnish the personnel necessary to conduct the research required for the development of an outline/script for a film/commercial/slideshow depicting _______________________. Such an outline/script shall include all major photographic and narrative elements, in full where full control over filming is possible and in highlight where the filming will dictate the direction of the story.
2. The above research period shall not exceed (__) ______ weeks. Such period shall begin on the Monday following ___'s written approval of this agreement and its return to YCP.
3. The outline/script will be suitable for a film of approximately ____ minutes in duration.
4. It is understood that the film shall be informational and characteristically suitable for use in ________________________ _____________________________ and for similar purposes.
5. As compensation for YCP's services during the research period, ____ will pay YCP a fee of $________, this amount to be paid to YCP on the following schedule:
a) $______ on the signing of this agreement.
b) $______ upon the completion of the research period and the delivery to ____ of the story outline.
6. In addition to the payment of YCP's fee, ____ will also reimburse YCP for any and all out-of-pocket expense incurred with ____'s written approval.
7. Upon completion of the story outline/script, YCP shall deliver to ____ said story outline/script and the same shall be ____'s sole and exclusive property; it being our intention that ____ shall have the sole right to use any of the ideas and material developed by YCP for the production of a film such as we have described above.
8. If the story outline/script meets with ____'s approval, YCP and _____ shall attempt to negotiate an agreement for the actual production of the film. _____'s right to negotiate with others is not restricted.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return one copy of this letter to YCP and the same will constitute evidence of our agreement.
Sincerely yours,
_________________________
Yankee Classic Pictures
The foregoing is approved and accepted: