Asking for Author Credit In The Documentation?

[Steven Oppenheimer <Steven -at- OppenheimerCommunications -dot- com>]

First of all, I'm not sure if posting this question on the Friday before 
Labor Day is the best time to post -- I'm not sure anyone will be reading 
the list all weekend!  But the question just popped into my mind, and I'm 
the impatient type, so we'll give it a shot.  If I get no (or few) replies, 
maybe I'll repost next week.

Anyway... I'm a sole proprietor, and for the past year I've been doing a 
lot of writing for a startup company.  They have developed technology which 
(we hope!) will help companies improve the performance of their computer 
networks.  In the relatively near future, they will finally have a product 
on the market, which -- at least initially -- will be sold mainly to other 
companies.  (Eventually they may have a consumer product as well.)

If I may say so myself, I have created some pretty sizzling documentation 
for them.  It occurred to me that, since this stuff is going out to other 
companies, it would help me if I got some credit in the 
documentation.  Now, I have a very good relationship with these people, but 
there is nothing in my contract which promises me credit.  Still, I see no 
harm in asking.  My idea is to have something on the copyright page -- and 
also, in some suitable spot in the online help -- which reads something like:

Documentation developed by Oppenheimer Communications (www.OpComm.com) and 
the Staff of SuperNetworkWizards, Inc. [of course we'd use the real company 
name here]

Again, I see no harm in at least asking, but I was wondering if anyone 
might be able to anticipate any solid objections they might have.  I mean, 
I realize one possible negative response might be:  "We just don't want 
anyone else's name on our product," and if they feel that way, then that's 
that.  But I'm asking more:  Are there any specific legal issues, liability 
issues, intellectual property issues, anything concrete that could make 
them say no to this idea, because it can cause problems in specific 
ways?  Needless-to-say, I've already signed paperwork which says they own 
the documentation, so there is no issue of my claiming rights to it.

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever negotiated a contract ahead of time where 
you obtained rights to credit, as part of the agreement to do documentation?

Have a good Labor Day, at least for those of you here in America!

Steven Oppenheimer, M.A.
Oppenheimer Communications
Technical and Business Writing:  From Complexity To Clarity (SM)
Steven -at- OpComm -dot- com   www.OpComm.com   (301) 468-9233 


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