Hey there! I have a marketing firm who wants me to write articles for them. They want me to create a copyright agreement that gives them full rights to the article. Basically, I guess ghostwriting? I did tell them over the phone that I wanted to be able to put anything I right for them in my portfolio, though; I've been writing for a different person, we fell out, and now they're telling me I'm not allowed to say that I wrote for them (yeah, I know; never write for a "friend" without a contract....). Thank you in advance.
If you have a contract that meets both parties needs, then go for it. I think giving full rights over warrants more payment though.
I don't have any contract currently; that's what I'm looking for. Not finding anything on Google, but I may not be putting in the right keywords.
When I did ghostwriting (for a rock band, lyrics & conceptual pieces) I had to sign a NDA (non-disclosure agreement)... it didn't allow me to use the pieces in a portfolio, of course, but I'm finding that I don't (personally) need much of a portfolio beyond what I have online already (ezine articles, hubpages, etc)... I realize this doesn't answer your question, I was more or less saying that if you go ahead and write for them couldn't you simply use it as a part of an "e-mail me for portfolio samples" rather than posting it online? Ghostwriting is an agreement to not take credit rather than simply not being credited where the piece is published, by definition. I'm sure you already knew that, of course, but it never hurts to say. I'm not sure if there's a copyright "grey area" that allows you to showcase your pieces to potential clients, but I'd imagine there's nothing legal they can do to stop you in reality.