January: publishing contract

Drawing by Christophe Bataillon

Read your contract

Always carefully read your contract, which specifies the signatories’ rights and duties.
There are different contract models, such as:

• The SNE model (Syndicat National de l'Edition)
• The CPE model (Conseil Permanent des Ecrivains)
• The SEA model (Syndicat des Editeurs Alternatifs)

Seek legal advice if necessary, from ADAGP or SNAC, and resources for clarification, such as the commented contract, or the guide for comic book authors.
Don't forget that you are a comic book author and not a lawyer. So there is no harm in seeking help understanding the clauses of a contract.

Negotiate

A negotiation is not a declaration of war against your publisher. The parties signing a contract are free to negotiate what they wish, as they wish, provided that they do not violate the public policy provisions of the IPC.
Above all, organize and prioritize your negotiations.