.png)
BOSSDOCTORS BLUEPRINT
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR AGREEMENT
This Contributing Author Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between Minority Virtual Physicians Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ("MVPS"), producer of The BossDoctors Blueprint, and the individual accepting this Agreement ("Contributor"). MVPS and Contributor may each be referred to as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties." This Agreement governs Contributor's participation in The BossDoctors Blueprint ("Book" or "Project").
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT
Contributor agrees to prepare and submit an original chapter or other approved written contribution for consideration and inclusion in the Book. Participation is contingent upon execution or electronic acceptance of this Agreement, payment of the applicable participation fee, compliance with Project requirements and deadlines, submission of required author materials, and compliance with MVPS editorial and publication standards. MVPS retains final authority regarding organization, design, chapter order, title, subtitle, format, publication schedule, distribution, marketing, and overall presentation of the Book.
CONTRIBUTOR FEE AND PAYMENT
Contributor agrees to pay the participation fee associated with the level selected at enrollment. Payment must be received to secure Contributor's position. All payments are final and non-refundable. Contributor acknowledges that the Project has a limited number of positions and that MVPS may immediately allocate editorial, administrative, production, publishing, marketing, event, and other resources upon enrollment. Contributor's subsequent inability or decision not to participate does not create an entitlement to a refund, credit, or transfer.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY
Contributor may voluntarily withdraw by written notice; however, voluntary withdrawal does not entitle Contributor to a refund. Except where otherwise required by law, fees will not be refunded because of voluntary withdrawal, failure to submit required materials, missed deadlines, failure to respond to Project communications, failure to complete requested revisions, scheduling conflicts, changes in personal or professional circumstances, or removal resulting from Contributor's material breach.
PROJECT TIMELINE AND DEADLINES
MVPS will provide the official Project timeline, including applicable submission requirements and deadlines, within thirty (30) days of enrollment. Contributor is responsible for timely submission of all requested materials, including manuscript, biography, headshot, credentials, author information, revisions, approvals, publishing forms, releases, marketing materials, interviews, and other reasonable deliverables. Failure to meet required deadlines may result in forfeiture of Contributor's participation and chapter placement without refund. MVPS may proceed with publication without Contributor when required materials, revisions, or approvals are not received on time. Failure to review Project communications does not automatically extend a deadline.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LICENSE TO PUBLISH
Contributor retains ownership of the copyright in Contributor's original written contribution, subject to the rights granted herein. Contributor grants Minority Virtual Physicians Society and its designated publishers, editors, printers, distributors, production companies, marketing agencies, licensees, contractors, and Project partners a non-exclusive, worldwide license to edit, reproduce, publish, manufacture, distribute, display, promote, market, advertise, sell, and otherwise use Contributor's contribution as part of the Book. The license includes print, digital, electronic, audiobook, promotional, excerpted, translated, revised, reprinted, and future editions or formats. MVPS may use reasonable excerpts, quotations, chapter titles, and submitted materials to promote the Book, its authors, associated educational programming, launch activities, and related MVPS initiatives.
ORIGINALITY AND THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS
Contributor represents and warrants that the submission is original or that all necessary permissions have been obtained for third-party material. Contributor will not knowingly submit material that infringes copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other rights; is plagiarized, defamatory, unlawfully discriminatory, or otherwise unlawful; violates confidentiality obligations; or contains unlawfully disclosed protected or proprietary information. Contributor is responsible for obtaining required permissions for protected content.
EDITORIAL RIGHTS AND FINAL APPROVAL
MVPS maintains final editorial and creative control over the collective Book. MVPS and its editorial partners may edit for grammar, spelling, clarity, consistency, length, style, organization, formatting, accuracy, and alignment with Book standards. When reasonably practicable, substantive changes that materially alter meaning will be provided for review. Contributor agrees to respond to edit or approval requests by stated deadlines. Failure to respond may result in proceeding with previously approved material or removal of the chapter when necessary to preserve the publication schedule.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PLAGIARISM AND ACCURACY
Contributor remains fully responsible for all material submitted under Contributor's name, regardless of whether artificial intelligence, editors, ghostwriters, research assistants, or other tools assisted in preparation. Contributor may not knowingly submit AI-generated or other content that infringes third-party rights or falsely represents another person's work as Contributor's own. Contributor is responsible for independently verifying facts, statistics, quotations, references, citations, clinical information, and other factual claims.
MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONTENT
The Book is intended for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute individualized medical, legal, financial, investment, or other professional advice. Contributors providing healthcare-related information agree to exercise reasonable professional care regarding accuracy and presentation. Contributor shall not submit protected health information, identifiable patient information, confidential client information, or other legally protected information unless inclusion is lawful and all necessary permissions have been obtained.
NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS AND PUBLICITY RIGHTS
Contributor grants MVPS permission to use Contributor's name, professional credentials, approved biography, likeness, photograph, voice, company or practice name, chapter title, quotations, interviews, and approved submitted materials in connection with publication and promotion of the Project, including websites, social media, email campaigns, advertisements, press materials, podcasts, video content, media appearances, launch events, conferences, educational programming, fundraising materials, and other activities reasonably related to the Book and MVPS.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE PRIOR TO RELEASE
Contributor may receive confidential or non-public Project information before official release. "Confidential Information" may include unpublished manuscripts, chapters, contributor information, author lists not yet publicly announced, designs, covers, publishing plans, launch strategies, marketing campaigns, financial or business information, pricing strategies, schedules, private communications, internal documents, and other information reasonably understood to be confidential. Contributor agrees not to disclose, publish, distribute, reproduce, post, transmit, share, or otherwise make Confidential Information available to third parties before MVPS authorizes public release. This restriction does not apply to information lawfully public, previously known without restriction, independently developed, lawfully obtained from a third party, or required to be disclosed by law. Where legally permitted, Contributor will provide reasonable notice before compelled disclosure.
NON-SOLICITATION OF PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
During participation and for twelve (12) months following initial publication, Contributor agrees not to use confidential Project information, private contributor lists, Project directories, private group communications, or relationships obtained specifically through Project access to systematically solicit or recruit Blueprint contributors for a directly competing collaborative book or substantially similar paid publishing project. This does not prohibit ordinary networking, pre-existing relationships, general advertising not specifically directed to Blueprint contributors, unrelated collaborations, speaking engagements, business referrals, independent professional relationships, or responding to unsolicited inquiries.
CONTRIBUTOR DISCLOSURE AND REPRESENTATIONS
Contributor represents that information provided to MVPS regarding professional background, credentials, licenses, qualifications, accomplishments, organizations, and experience is materially accurate. To the extent permitted by law, Contributor agrees to disclose any known material circumstance that could reasonably create substantial legal, financial, ethical, or reputational harm to MVPS, the Book, contributors, sponsors, or partners if publicly disclosed in connection with participation. Relevant circumstances may include criminal convictions or pending criminal proceedings, professional license suspension/restriction/surrender/revocation, findings of professional misconduct or fraud, material disciplinary actions, material civil judgments involving fraud or professional misconduct, or other circumstances Contributor knows could materially compromise Project integrity. Contributor need not disclose information applicable law prohibits MVPS from requesting or considering.
MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION OR KNOWING NONDISCLOSURE
If Contributor knowingly makes a material misrepresentation or knowingly withholds information required under Section 13, MVPS may suspend or terminate participation and remove Contributor and/or Contributor's chapter to the extent reasonably practicable. Removal on this basis does not entitle Contributor to a refund. To the extent permitted by law, Contributor may be responsible for losses, liabilities, third-party claims, reasonable attorneys' fees, crisis-management expenses, or other direct costs proximately caused by intentional material misrepresentation or knowing nondisclosure.
RIGHT TO PROTECT THE PROJECT
MVPS reserves the right to suspend, remove, or decline to publish a Contributor when it reasonably determines that continued participation creates a substantial legal, ethical, safety, financial, or reputational risk to MVPS, the Book, contributors, sponsors, partners, or affiliated organizations. This provision will not be applied on the basis of legally protected characteristics, lawful protected activity, or other prohibited grounds.
MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL PARTICIPATION
Contributor acknowledges that collaborative promotion is an important component of the Project and agrees to make reasonable efforts to participate in marketing and launch activities associated with the selected participation level. Specific benefits may vary by level. MVPS does not guarantee any particular number of sales, media placements, interviews, speaking engagements, social-media impressions, followers, leads, clients, business opportunities, revenue, or other commercial outcome.
PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION
MVPS will determine the publishing and distribution strategy for the collective Book. Anticipated publication dates, launch events, distribution channels, vendors, production schedules, promotional activities, and related details may change based on editorial, production, commercial, technical, legal, or other circumstances. Reasonable changes do not create an entitlement to a refund.
AUTHOR COPIES AND PARTICIPATION BENEFITS
Contributor will receive the author copies and other benefits, if any, associated with the selected participation level. Benefits may be subject to reasonable scheduling, production, eligibility, availability, and Project requirements. Unless expressly stated otherwise in writing, unused benefits have no cash value and are not redeemable for refunds.
ROYALTIES, REVENUE AND OWNERSHIP OF THE COLLECTIVE WORK
Unless expressly provided in a separate written agreement executed by MVPS, Contributor will not receive royalties or a share of revenue generated from sales of the collective Book. Participation does not create an ownership, membership, partnership, or equity interest in MVPS, BossDoctors, the collective Book, or any related business or organization. Contributor retains ownership of the underlying original contribution subject to the publishing and promotional rights granted herein.
REMOVAL OR WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROJECT
MVPS may remove Contributor for material breach, including failure to meet required deadlines, failure to provide required materials, repeated failure to respond, plagiarism or intellectual-property infringement, material misrepresentation, knowing nondisclosure required under this Agreement, unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information, material violation of the non-solicitation provision, or submission of unlawful or materially inappropriate content. When removal results from Contributor's material breach, amounts previously paid remain non-refundable.
FORCE MAJEURE
MVPS will not be considered in breach or liable for delay or failure in performance resulting from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, hurricanes, floods, fires, severe weather, epidemics, pandemics, war, terrorism, civil unrest, acts or orders of government, labor disruptions, transportation interruptions, utility failures, telecommunications failures, cyber incidents, technology or platform outages, printing or distribution interruptions, supply-chain disruptions, vendor failures, illness or incapacity of essential Project personnel, or similar circumstances. MVPS may reasonably extend deadlines, postpone publication, reschedule events, substitute vendors, modify production/distribution plans, change launch activities, or implement reasonable alternatives. Such changes do not, by themselves, create an obligation to issue a refund.
INDEMNIFICATION
To the extent permitted by law, Contributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless MVPS and its officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, publishing partners, and Project representatives from third-party claims, liabilities, losses, and reasonable legal expenses arising directly from Contributor's material breach; infringement or unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property; unlawful disclosure of confidential, proprietary, or protected information; intentional material misrepresentation; or knowing failure to disclose information expressly required under Section 13. This does not require Contributor to indemnify MVPS for claims resulting solely from MVPS's independently created materials or conduct.
LIMITATION OF GUARANTEES
MVPS will use commercially reasonable efforts to produce and publish the Project but does not guarantee a particular publication date, sales volume, bestseller designation, media exposure, speaking opportunity, financial return, professional opportunity, business outcome, or other specific result.
RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES
Contributor participates as an independent contributing author. Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, agency relationship, fiduciary relationship, franchise, or ownership interest between Contributor and MVPS or BossDoctors. Contributor has no authority to incur obligations on behalf of MVPS unless expressly authorized in writing.
NOTICES AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Contributor agrees that Project notices, deadlines, approvals, and other communications may be delivered electronically to the contact information provided by Contributor. Contributor is responsible for maintaining accurate contact information and monitoring Project communications.
SEVERABILITY
If any provision is determined invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted or severed as necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
WAIVER
Failure by either Party to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive that provision or the right to enforce it later.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement, together with the BossDoctors Blueprint Payment, Cancellation, Refund and Project Deadline Policies and any written participation-level terms incorporated by reference, constitutes the agreement between the Parties concerning participation in the Project. Any amendment must be made in writing and agreed to by the Parties.
ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE
Contributor may accept this Agreement electronically through the Project website, enrollment platform, checkbox acknowledgment, or other electronic acceptance method authorized by MVPS. Electronic acceptance will have the same force and effect as a physical signature to the extent permitted by applicable law.
SURVIVAL
Provisions relating to intellectual property, publishing rights, confidentiality, representations and warranties, indemnification, non-solicitation, payment obligations, and other provisions that by their nature should survive will remain effective following publication, withdrawal, removal, expiration, or termination.
ONLINE ACCEPTANCE
By checking the acceptance box and/or completing enrollment through the authorized Project website, Contributor acknowledges that Contributor has read, understands, and agrees to be bound by this Contributing Author Agreement and the applicable Payment, Cancellation, Refund and Project Deadline Policies.