Does the "co-author" have any legal recourse in this scenario (see below)?

K

kathy_is_a_nurse

New member
Two people agree verbally to co-author a book. For the first few years of this relationship, one of the authors does virtually all the creative work in writing this book. Once a manuscript is written by the first author, the second author begins wanting to make additions and changes, which the first author goes along with. But eventually, the second author tries to radically change the first author's concepts. After further years of disagreement on a variety of issues relating to the book's content, the two parties have reached an impasse. If the first author deletes any direct contributions from the second author, can the second author stop the first from going forward with the book on his own?

Again bare in mind there was NEVER a signed contract... nothing in writing on defining the relationship.

Your thoughts?
What would be a reasonable/fair solution?
 
This is very "iffy". Although there wasn't a signed contract, the two authors performed like there WAS one. This can be the same a having a signed document. Also, if the second author reasonably relied on the book deal for any reason there will be a claim of promissory estopple and the second author will have a claim "to be made whole" again.
 
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