Why I built SimpleClause

I'm Damian, the maker of SimpleClause. I built it because of what happened to a designer friend of mine.

He's a talented graphic designer who spent weeks pouring his heart into a branding project for a startup. Late nights, weekends, countless revisions. When it was done, the client loved it, paid him and moved on.

Six months later, he started his own design agency and wanted to use that project in his portfolio. The client said no, then threatened legal action.

Buried in the contract he had signed was a single clause, written in dense legal language across four lines, that gave the client ownership of not just that project, but any creative work he produced during their working relationship. His entire portfolio from that period, gone.

A lawyer told him the clause was unusual but enforceable. He had signed it without understanding what it meant. Most people would have.

That moment stuck with me. My friend isn't careless. He's smart, hardworking and talented. He just didn't have a law degree, and he shouldn't need one to protect himself.

How SimpleClause helps

Paste any clause and get a plain-English explanation, a Contract Health Rating and the red flags worth knowing about, before you sign. It's free to start, with no account needed.

How the guides are written

Each guide is drafted with AI assistance, then edited by me and checked against official sources. The “Last reviewed” date on each guide shows when it was last checked. If you spot a mistake, please email legal@simpleclause.me.

What SimpleClause is not

I'm not a lawyer, and SimpleClause doesn't give legal advice. It helps you understand what you're signing and spot when something is worth showing a lawyer, so you can arrive prepared.