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Intellectual Property

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 3:27 am
by Dip.Schlitz
I worked for a print shop for many years and had original designs created by the art department. Now that I no longer work there, am I entitled to retrieve said artwork ? I have most of the films but the digital files are still on their computer, but there is a good chance my files have since been deleted.
Also, throughout the course of my time working there I brought several customers to the business and they had art created as well. Businesses, sports teams, etc.
If they were to come to me for future printing, I would have to recreate art work or can they retrieve the physical films or at the very least the vector files from the company? Are they entitled to that even though they paid to have it vectored ?

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 10:29 am
by Catspit Productions
Normally, unless otherwise agreed upon and specifically paid for, any artwork created by an artist working for a screen printing company belongs to that company entity. When you contract a screen printer to create art the art copyrights belong to the screen printing company since they actually originated the design. If you want to "own" the art work you usually pay a higher fee and negotiate that before you contract the work.

When a customer gives artwork and the screen printing company only does a separation of some kind and prints it pretty much as is then the person who originally created the art owns the copyright. The screen printing company owns the film, screens and digital separations unless otherwise stated by the screen printing company. But they do not own the copyright to the actual artwork.

The bottom line is if you need copyrights, control and ownership of a piece of art that you are contracting someone else to create under your guidance then you need to negotiate that and agree on it in writing of some kind. You may even want to immediately file a copyright with the Library of Congress.

However, this is not to say they won't be willing to work with you since you used to work for them. Given it was a pleasant experience of course ;) But I'll assume they'd rather print the job themselves.

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 11:07 pm
by Dip.Schlitz
As usual, a well stated, thorough response that is much appreciated. Thanks, keep on Catspittin'!

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 12:34 pm
by Catspit Productions
My pleasure, Your welcome my friend!

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 11:51 am
by Bigfatross
Catspit Productions wrote:You may even want to immediately file a copyright with the Library of Congress.
Hi Gang,
Has anybody on this forum filed a copyright with the Library of Congress? If so, is it a lot of red tape and expensive?
Can member Dip.Schlitz go onto a website (or other form of investigation), to check to see if the art INDEED has a copyright on it?
Thanks in advance!
Ross

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 3:16 pm
by Catspit Productions
Bigfatross wrote:
Catspit Productions wrote:You may even want to immediately file a copyright with the Library of Congress.
Hi Gang,
Has anybody on this forum filed a copyright with the Library of Congress? If so, is it a lot of red tape and expensive?
Can member Dip.Schlitz go onto a website (or other form of investigation), to check to see if the art INDEED has a copyright on it?
Thanks in advance!
Ross
Yes, I have. It costs about $35 and you file some paper work with original print outs of the artwork. Just go onto the Library of Congress website and follow the instructions. It's actually very easy. I did all 5 of my business logos.

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 4:06 am
by Bigfatross
[/quote]

Yes, I have. It costs about $35 and you file some paper work with original print outs of the artwork. Just go onto the Library of Congress website and follow the instructions. It's actually very easy. I did all 5 of my business logos.[/quote]

OH MAN! What I'm I going to do with all the CATSPIT T shirts I made :lol: Jonathan, thank you for the information!

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:49 pm
by Catspit Productions
Bigfatross wrote:
Yes, I have. It costs about $35 and you file some paper work with original print outs of the artwork. Just go onto the Library of Congress website and follow the instructions. It's actually very easy. I did all 5 of my business logos.[/quote]

OH MAN! What I'm I going to do with all the CATSPIT T shirts I made :lol: Jonathan, thank you for the information![/quote]

LOL.... well I did it for business purposes really. But I'll be happy with a percentage ;)

You're very welcome. Glad I could help out.

Re: Intellectual Property

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:25 am
by garrus
Thanks for the clarification!