I just got a request from a fact checker for a publication who wanted to reference my April 1 joke on Brain Doping in a story (I was not interviewed for the story). And they wanted me to sign over some rights associated with them using my name. The text of the form is below. I have been quoted and written about and even had my picture in places like the Scientific American, the New Yorker, US News and World Report, USA Today, PLoS Biology, Nature, Science, blogs, etc and not once has anyone sent me such a form. Anyone seen anything like this?
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, I, ___________________________ (“Subject”), hereby irrevocably grant
to XXXXXXXXXXXX, and YYYYYYYYYYYYYY , the absolute right
and permission to publish my name and/or photograph or likeness and/or statements
(either in part or in their entirety) in: (a) the publication, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, that ,
(including all print and digital versions), (b) reprints of the article, including excerpts thereof,
in which Subject’s name and/or photograph or likeness
and/or statements originally appeared (including all print or digital versions) and (c)
promotional materials relating to ZZZZ, YYYY, XXXXX, in any and all media.
In the event this Consent & Release cannot by signed by the Subject, the undersigned represents that
he/she is fully authorized by Subject to grant the rights herein.
Subject agrees that electronic signatures shall have the same force and effect as original signatures.
________________________________________________
Print Name
________________________________________________
Signature
________________________________________________
Address
________________________________________________
City/State/Zip Code
________________________________________________
Telephone
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Date
he/she is fully authorized by Subject to grant the rights herein.
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Jonathan Eisen's Lab 
No, I’ve never seen anything like this. Looks like a case of too many lawyers with not enough to do!
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It turns out this is some sort of “Promotional” publication and the fact checker has said this is why they want me to sign something. But it still seems weird …
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What’s the “good and valuable consideration”? Are they willing to pay?
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Uh.. sign that, and the “promotional materials relating to ZZZZZ” could take the form of such things as the text “ZZZZZ is the greatest thing since sliced bread!” on-the-same-page-as-but-not-in-immediate-proximity-to a photograph of your face.
I’d balk, hard.
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Didja sign?
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Not a remote chance in hell — but if they offer some “good and valuable consideration” (which I did not read … thanks Rosie)” then maybe I would
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Stephan definitely has it right. There’s no telling where your name will end up if you sign that thing.
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I can think of no legitimate purpose for which your CC-BY license would not be sufficient. Definitely beware!
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