Thanks for sharing your experience at this type of expo. I hope your deal with the kids' virtual reality start-up does through. ...Funny thing, when reading this I thought of the show Halt and Catch Fire :-)
Hey! First EVERYTHING is negotiable. Just because an illustrator says something, doesn’t mean you can’t find a middle ground that meets the needs of both!
Usually, you contract for illustrations for a book and the contract is based on that. You can do a royalty share or a work-for-hire contract, whatever meets your needs and the illustrator will agree to. Often a work-for-hire contract is for all rights, which means you can use the art for anything you like.
However, for a royalty share contract, or as part of the negotiations for a work-for-hire contract, if you want to use the illustrations outside the book, say for stickers, calendars, basis of a plush doll, then you are asking for more rights. The illustrator will often ask for additional fees for licensing these extra rights.
It’s all in the contract. Did you provide the contract, or did they? I ALWAYS provide my own contracts, so I can control all of that.
Question for you: I’m writing a Children’s book and I’m talking to illustrators. One says I need to pay her for licensing rights to use her images. In addition to paying her to illustrate them. However, I came up with the concepts for the images. Am I correct that I do not need to pay her for licensing?
This was an interesting read! I’ve started playing around with hand embroidery over the past two years and eventually want to be able to offer patterns for sale. My five year old loves when I embroider her favorite characters on her clothes…but in order to offer those patterns to others, I’d need permission/some sort of licensing agreement. (The frustrating part is looking on websites like Etsy, which is rife with products available that clearly don’t have licensing agreements).
Thanks again for giving me a roadmap for a series of books when the time comes . . .I have huge respect for the added value of effective legal representation.
I had a feeling you would be there. I had to attend the Licensing Expo Virtually. My youngest graduated High School during it. I watched many of the sessions and learned more about the Industry. My main hope was to find a Licensing Agent or Agency. Like you, I want to animate my Children's properties and continue to build my properties brand. Its kinda all new to me and I knew at some point I would have to go down this path. Thank you for sharing your expeirence it does help me. Keep on knocking on those doors! :)
Thank you for this post! I have a picture book with a character plush I want to license. The licensing industry is huge and amazing. So much to learn! This was my first Expo which I did virtually. Thanks again for your author’s perspective. Did you happen to see the License This Competition? That was very interesting and informative.
Darcy, this is fascinating. It's also a perfect fit for you. I love how you jump into things, learn all you can, and incorporate it. Once again, I'm in awe...
Thanks for sharing your experience at this type of expo. I hope your deal with the kids' virtual reality start-up does through. ...Funny thing, when reading this I thought of the show Halt and Catch Fire :-)
Hey! First EVERYTHING is negotiable. Just because an illustrator says something, doesn’t mean you can’t find a middle ground that meets the needs of both!
Usually, you contract for illustrations for a book and the contract is based on that. You can do a royalty share or a work-for-hire contract, whatever meets your needs and the illustrator will agree to. Often a work-for-hire contract is for all rights, which means you can use the art for anything you like.
However, for a royalty share contract, or as part of the negotiations for a work-for-hire contract, if you want to use the illustrations outside the book, say for stickers, calendars, basis of a plush doll, then you are asking for more rights. The illustrator will often ask for additional fees for licensing these extra rights.
It’s all in the contract. Did you provide the contract, or did they? I ALWAYS provide my own contracts, so I can control all of that.
Darcy
Question for you: I’m writing a Children’s book and I’m talking to illustrators. One says I need to pay her for licensing rights to use her images. In addition to paying her to illustrate them. However, I came up with the concepts for the images. Am I correct that I do not need to pay her for licensing?
This was an interesting read! I’ve started playing around with hand embroidery over the past two years and eventually want to be able to offer patterns for sale. My five year old loves when I embroider her favorite characters on her clothes…but in order to offer those patterns to others, I’d need permission/some sort of licensing agreement. (The frustrating part is looking on websites like Etsy, which is rife with products available that clearly don’t have licensing agreements).
Thanks again for giving me a roadmap for a series of books when the time comes . . .I have huge respect for the added value of effective legal representation.
Fascinating! I always learn so much from your sharing of info, thank you.
I had a feeling you would be there. I had to attend the Licensing Expo Virtually. My youngest graduated High School during it. I watched many of the sessions and learned more about the Industry. My main hope was to find a Licensing Agent or Agency. Like you, I want to animate my Children's properties and continue to build my properties brand. Its kinda all new to me and I knew at some point I would have to go down this path. Thank you for sharing your expeirence it does help me. Keep on knocking on those doors! :)
You amaze me. It exhausts me to read what you do! but inspires me as well. Your inquiry way of thinking is why you've done so well. Keep it up.
Thank you for this post! I have a picture book with a character plush I want to license. The licensing industry is huge and amazing. So much to learn! This was my first Expo which I did virtually. Thanks again for your author’s perspective. Did you happen to see the License This Competition? That was very interesting and informative.
I saw, but didn't pay attention to the competition. Sorry.
No problem. Congratulations on your connection. Hope it works out for you. Your catalog is beautiful! You will definitely get a licensee someday!
Darcy, this is fascinating. It's also a perfect fit for you. I love how you jump into things, learn all you can, and incorporate it. Once again, I'm in awe...
Wow, Darcy! That's intense. And way out of my league, I reckon (despite having written another brilliant book!) :)