deviant art

Deviant Login Shop
 Join deviantART for FREE Take the Tour
[x]
more ▶

Featured in Groups:

Details

August 31, 2008
Link
Thumb

Statistics

Comments: 151
Favourites: 0
Views: 195 (0 today)
[x]

Should I do this? (space-art related)

Journal Entry: Sun Aug 31, 2008, 6:25 AM
  • Mood: Stuck
  • Listening to: The faint sounds of Suburban Midnight life
  • Reading: My iTunes list of songs
  • Watching: Late night TV (surprisingly, no sex)
  • Playing: Smash Bros Brawl
  • Eating: My stored supply of junk food
  • Drinking: Hot chocolate (for these cold nights)
Check all yer other messages first...that way I can have your undivided attention lol

Hi, just a quick journal I'll keep for a while, asking about selling the rights to one of my works.

A short while ago, I was offered by someone to buy a "license" to use this on their game-site. I first offered that I would make an original peice just for that, however they wanted this one in particular, so I let them buy it and scored myself 50 bucks :dance:

However, they only bought it so they can use it legally. Now I'm being offered that same amount of money AGAIN for them to buy the exclusive rights to it...I am still able to keep it in my DA gallery, and sell prints too - But it ends there, that means that if I sell the exclusive rights to them, I CAN'T let anyone else buy or use this artwork at all...no matter how much I'm offered in cash :hmm:

Part of me says "Do it, it's an easy way to get cash off something you did for fun ages ago, and besides, you can always make more thats similar if anyone wants one"... But part of me says "What if someone offers me a lot of money for that particular image and not a "remake", and I can't legally sell it to them?"...What do YOU think? I'm leaning towards yes at the moment, but I'll ask just in case there's a good reason not to that I may have looked past (it's nearly midnight and I can't think straight :sleepy:)

Clubs/Groups:
:icongalaxyclub::iconterraspace::icondeviant-contests::icon3d-asuarus::icontreesclub::iconwicked-landscapes::icontreeswithcharacter::icon1vue::iconvisual-kei-club::iconthegazetteclub::iconrippedarttaskforce::iconmaster-artists:

WOW that was a lot, if you made it this far, then you deserve a Coke.
Yeah...I need to change this footer lol, hope Pepsi is OK?
Add a Comment:
 
:iconbowser81889:
*Bowser81889 Sep 1, 2008  Hobbyist General Artist
$250 sounds reasonable if you ask me. :P I'm sure he can put up at least that much. =P
Reply
:iconduef:
$50????? way too little maybe $500
Reply
:iconporcelainpoppies:
I've to agree with other people. If you *are* going to sell it, go for a lot more than 50. Remember, they're going to have the rights so that means any money they make off of it, belongs to them. Buying rights to artwork tends to be extremely expensive. Think of it this way:

A print of the Mona Lisa will usually run about 30-40 bucks...maybe even more depending on the quality. But the actual price of the painting is in the millions.

Think of your artwork that way. You can sell prints for 50 dollars, but to sell the rights would be like selling an original painting. It would cost a LOT more. :)
Reply
:iconpriteeboy:
`priteeboy Aug 31, 2008  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Good example, I didn't think of it like that before, But now I'm starting to think that maybe rather than selling the actual RIGHTS to it, that I could rather just let them buy the permission to be the only people to buy it...They still will only be allowed to use it for their game and site only, and if they intend on making any money out of it, then I am going to ask for a percentage of the profits too ;)
Reply
:iconlinkslove:
Unless they want to offer you a contract and work some kind of long term deal with you (like if they wanted you to regularly make art for them to use), I wouldn't take their offer. Its YOUR art. YOU alone should have exclusive rights to your art. Besides, its possible someone else might want something similar. Unless they're willing to give you some financial security with a long term contract, you really have no reason to give them full rights to your piece.
My opinion. Its your decision in the end. Just give it some thought. ^^
Reply
:iconpriteeboy:
`priteeboy Aug 31, 2008  Hobbyist Digital Artist
I don't think they are offering me a job just yet, which I suppose is good because he is far off in Germany and the constant exchanging of currency, as well as computers and programs being different there means that it probably be a hassle of a job that I couldn't keep up (I'd rather work locally in Australia for a first time)

As much as I like the idea of being "MY" art, I guess the professionals who work for games and movies sell the rights a lot for their work to the movie studio's, and they don't seem bothered. I guess it's like a traditional artist selling their paintings to someone who wants it, it just means that they can't sell it again. But maybe I should say that although he has the rights to be the ONLY person to buy, and use it...he still dosn't have the rights to use it for other purposes than the game and site (which means no advertising or printed media is allowed)
Reply
:iconlinkslove:
Hm, I suppose. I'd always thought of the people who make art for games and such as being more like commissioners; they are paid to make art specifically for the game, rather than someone browsing a person's gallery and buying up art to use for their game.
Reply
:iconpriteeboy:
`priteeboy Sep 2, 2008  Hobbyist Digital Artist
That's usually how it works, which is why this is new to me, making art specifically for a game is easier to part with than something from the heart you originally did just for "fun" still, I'll make sure I get a good deal ;)
Reply
:iconlinkslove:
Well, whatever you decide to do, lets hope it works out for you. :D
Reply
:iconmortal-reaper11:
I suggest you don't do it, if they buy it and you make something similar in idea or design to it there's every possibility you could be sued

$50 just isn't worth the chance...
Reply
Add a Comment: