What is a moral clause in a sports contract?

Most player contracts and endorsement contracts contain a “morals clause,” which gives the athlete’s team, league or company paying the athlete to endorse its products the right to terminate a contract or otherwise punish a player who engages in criminal or unseemly behavior.

Should morals clauses be a part of an athlete’s endorsement contract?

The morals clause is often one of the mostly highly negotiated and important provisions in an endorsement deal. Behavior that is criminal, that is scandalous, or that might tarnish the advertiser’s brand is typically deemed to violate the morals clause.

Do MLB contracts have a morals clause?

The best choice in preventing being stuck with an unmarketable player is negotiating a strong, specific morality clause into player’s contracts. They are generally legally enforceable and offer the best protection for violations of baseball’s rules and other behavior issues.

Are morals clauses enforceable?

Morality clauses have generally been held to be valid and enforceable as applied to high-profile figures.

What was a moral clause in a star’s contract?

A morality clause (also known as a morals clause, bad boy clause or bad girl clause) is a provision within instruments of a contract which curtail, or restrain, or proscribe certain behavior of individuals or party(s) to the contract.

What is the moral contract?

A morals clause is a provision in a contract or official document that prohibits certain behavior in connection with a person’s private life. Such clauses tend deal with objectionable behaviors, such as sexual acts and drug use.

Why is it important to include a morals clause in an endorsement contract?

A morals clause allows the Endorsee to cut loose an Endorser whose actions have directly affected or are likely to affect the image of the Endorsee. This clause seems necessary as in the competitive field of advertising the advertisers pay an Athlete millions of dollars in a multi-year deal to be the face of the brand.

What is a morality clause in a contract?

What is a clause in an agreement?

It is a very specific provision in a legal agreement that relates to an important point of understanding between the parties engaged in the contract. A clause dictates certain conditions under which the parties agree to act during the term of the contract.

Why are there morals clauses in NFL contracts?

Morals clauses in athletes’ league contracts are employed by teams and leagues in an attempt to moderate the athletes’ off-duty behavior. For example, the NFL suspended Adam “Pacman” Jones for the entire 2007 season after being arrested five times in less than two years.

What are morals clauses in an employment agreement?

Express morals clauses are drafted as part of the employment agreement. A typical express morals clause reads as follows:

What was the morality clause in the Universal contract?

September 1921- Universal Film Company – As a direct result of the “Fatty” Arbuckle alleged rape/murder scandal, Universal implemented a “morality clause” into their contracts, permitting the company to discontinue payments to actors, directors, etc. who “forfeit the respect of the public”.

How are morals clauses used in the entertainment industry?

Part III will address the use of morals clauses in various sectors of the entertainment industry: motion picture, television, athletics, and advertising. Part IV will discuss the outgrowth of reverse morals clauses, which protect the employee from improprieties of the employer.