Attorney-in-fact clause within contract; what does it do?
<p>This language was in the Ownership of work clause in a contract I was recently asked to sign as a freelance writer. The company's lawyer said that it was in case they needed to sue someone for plagiarism. But it doesn't seem to limit their powers.</p>

<p>Can someone please tell me what this paragraph means, and if it's something I should refuse to sign? It scares me to give anyone that kind of power.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Consultant agrees to execute any documents and perform any other acts as may be reasonably required by Company or its assignees or licensees to further evidence or effectuate Company’s rights and intellectual property as set forth in this paragraph, and Consultant hereby appoints Company as his/her attorney-in-fact (which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest), with full power of substitution and delegation, to execute any and all such documents and do any and all such other acts consistent herewith that Consultant fails to promptly perform after a reasonable opportunity to review and negotiate same."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This seems to be boilerplate text: for example, see <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1046568/000119312512460559/d415090dex101.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this SEC filing at section 6.1 ("OWNERSHIP")</a> or <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/55067/000119312511002474/dex101.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this SEC filing at section 7 ("Intellectual Property")</a>. My guess is that it is there to allow the company to be able to fill out copyright/patent registration forms if you don't for some reason.</p>

power-of-attorney