As a teacher, when I took your writing class I thought the Art of Styling Sentences was hard. I never dreamed how complicated the business of indie-publishing was! Thank you for front-loading the myriad of details for us. Appreciate all you do!
With regard to this "If you do a work-for-hire agreement with the illustrator that means you have bought the copyright also." How does it work if an illustrator is work for hire, but only wants to give you licensing rights to their illustrations while retaining the copyright themselves. Would that keep you from being able to file for a standard copyright on the book? I realize this is a question for a lawyer, I just wondered if you'd ever encountered this scenario in your business and how you managed it. Thanks!
Two things. First, everything is in the contract and you should specify who files copyright and in what name. Second, if they keep the copyright, you file copyright on the TEXT only, and EXCLUDE the art. Depending on the contract, I may file two copyrights, one for TEXT only EXCLUDING ART, and one for ART only EXCLUDING TEXT.
As a teacher, when I took your writing class I thought the Art of Styling Sentences was hard. I never dreamed how complicated the business of indie-publishing was! Thank you for front-loading the myriad of details for us. Appreciate all you do!
I agree! We have become experts in complicated!
With regard to this "If you do a work-for-hire agreement with the illustrator that means you have bought the copyright also." How does it work if an illustrator is work for hire, but only wants to give you licensing rights to their illustrations while retaining the copyright themselves. Would that keep you from being able to file for a standard copyright on the book? I realize this is a question for a lawyer, I just wondered if you'd ever encountered this scenario in your business and how you managed it. Thanks!
Hey, SaDonna:
Two things. First, everything is in the contract and you should specify who files copyright and in what name. Second, if they keep the copyright, you file copyright on the TEXT only, and EXCLUDE the art. Depending on the contract, I may file two copyrights, one for TEXT only EXCLUDING ART, and one for ART only EXCLUDING TEXT.
Darcy
Congratulations Darcy!