SigninG a Publishing Contract

1A. Defining the game and the parties to the contract

The beginning of the contract usually establishes the license. A contract’s introductory text might look like this:

This License Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of XXX (“Effective Date”) by and between PUBLISHER (“Licensee”) and  DESIGNER (“Licensor”) regarding a new and original game tentatively entitled GAME  (the "Work"). 


DESIGNER grants to PUBLISHER for the Term (as defined below), the exclusive right to reproduce, publish, distribute, transmit, sell, and otherwise make available (collectively defined as "Publish") GAME and related Products (as defined below) in the Territory (as defined below).

There are many possible variations in this opening text, including variations in the basic terms for who the parties are. Throughout this document, we use PUBLISHER, DESIGNER, and GAME. The contract you are given may use the following synonyms: 

  • For PUBLISHER: Licensee, Publisher, the Company, or the company’s actual name
  • For DESIGNER: Licensor, Owner, Author
  • For GAME: the Work, the Game, the Product


If you want to use some of our text to suggest clauses to your publisher, try to follow their format and replace the capitalized words with the language used in the opening clause of your contract.