May 10, 1978 Cover Letter, Marvel Comics Work-Made-for-Hire Contract

This is an appendix post for the article "All Quacked Up: Steve Gerber, Marvel Comics, and Howard the Duck" (click here).

Below is Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter’s May 10, 1978 cover letter for Marvel's standard work-made-for-hire contract. The letter and contract were sent to members of Marvel's freelance creative pool. The contract was issued to bring Marvel in compliance with the work-made-for-hire provisions of the 1976 Copyright Act. The Act went into effect on January 1, 1978.