Copyright Issues, Work for Hire, Source Files?

Kathryn Anderson <[email protected]>
Newsgroups gmane.comp.hci.experiencedesign
Message-ID <p06110404bdbecd7bd8a8@[10.0.1.2]>
How do you handle copyright ownership as a designer? I'm a graphic 
designer, and am struggling with the issue.

One of my main clients is a design firm that feels that we should do 
whatever the client wants, so if they want to set things up as 
work-for-hire, and own all of the rights, then that's what we'll give 
them. They also want to hand over all source files (such as layered 
Photoshop files), so the client can make any changes they like.

Another of my main clients is a marketing firm that wants me to sign 
a contract, which includes a statement that all work is done as 
work-for-hire, and that the marketing firm will own all of the rights.

I understand that the AIGA and Graphic Artists Guild are very against 
work-for-hire, as it takes all rights away from the designer. I agree 
with them, but I'm not sure how to deal with this issue. I'm against 
handing over my source files, as it means less update work for me, 
and the client usually destroys the design. As far as licensing, I've 
always felt comfortable allowing the client to use a design for 
whatever they need (using a poster as a website graphic), although I 
would like to have the option of handling the re-purposing of 
graphics, so the design remains at its best.

I do look to the AIGA and GAG as authorities on the matter, and would 
like to follow their guidelines and ethics with my practice. But I 
also want to keep my major clients, and feel some pressure to give up 
my rights in order to keep them happy.

Please help!

thanks
Kathryn


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