Is it safe/legal to do this: rename and release unpaid story

[DaFool]

Just soliciting feedback and potential pitfalls.

Hypothetical scenario: Producer commissions writer to write story to match art paid for by producer.
Project stalls; there's been a falling-out. Producer fails to pay writer.

Can the writer legally just rename their story and release by themselves or under a different team as long as the art is different?

[Aurélie]

The "legal" part depends on the wording and specifics of the initial agreement with the producer. I definitely think if the producer failed to pay the writer entirely (as opposed to paying them and then the story not being published) then the writer has the right to use their work. If the producer handed a plot/scenario to the writer, the writer should probably get in touch with the producer if they can and see if the producer is okay with it. But if the writer made up the plot themselves I think that, ethically at least, the writer's completely within their rights.

Main pitfall I can see is if the scenario was the producer's idea.