Ownership of Copyright
& Copyright Licence
Here are the legals, copyright and T&C’s. They are very standard for artists and illustrators and I have done my best to provide them in plain English without too much fuss and bother.
If you're a fellow artist or illustrator, please don't copy-paste this page. Drop me a friendly line and I'll help you out with a copy. If you're a struggling artist it's free, or I'll exchange it for the price of a London cup of coffee if you're not starving!
If you are using generative AI or any type of Artificial Intelligence to scrape and repurpose my original artwork and ideas without asking or paying, naughty, naughty. I do not give you permission for AI or the company or organisation or individual using AI to reproduce, repurpose, manipulate or change my artwork in whole or in part without prior agreement. Say hello to request permission and agree fees.
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Ownership of Copyright and Copyright Licence
MEL BARREN (also known as “THE ILLUSTRATOR”) will provide CLIENT.INC (also known as “THE CLIENT”) with original artwork, designs, drawings, paintings, inkwork, illustrations, personalised cartoons, customised artwork as to the specifications detailed in the Terms and Conditions below.
1. The copyright of artwork commissioned by the Client shall be retained by the Illustrator.
2. The Client or the Client’s customer (where the Client is acting as an intermediary) is granted a licence to reproduce the Illustrator’s artwork solely for the purposes set out on the face of this acceptance of the commission or project. If the acceptance of this commission or project is silent, the Client or the Client’s customer is granted an exclusive licence for one time use Worldwide.
3. During the currency of the licence, the Illustrator shall notify the Client of any proposed exploitation of the artwork for purposes other than self-promotion on the Illustrator’s website and social media, and the Client shall have the right to make reasonable objections if such exploitation is likely to be detrimental to the business of the Client or the Client’s customer.
4. Where use of the artwork is restricted, the Illustrator will nominally grant the Client or the Client’s customer a licence for use for other purposes subject to payment of a further fee in line with current licensing rates to be mutually agreed between the Illustrator and Client.
5. The licence hereby granted to use the artwork is contingent upon the Illustrator having received payment in full of all monies due to her and no reproduction or publication rights are granted unless and until all sums due under this Agreement have been paid.
6. The licence hereby granted is personal to the Client or the Client’s customer (where the Client is acting as an intermediary) and the rights may not be assigned or sub-licensed to third parties without the Illustrator’s consent.
Payment
7. The Client shall pay all invoices within 30 days of their receipt. Interest at a rate of 8% per month plus the Bank Of England base rate is payable on any balance unpaid after 30 days of the date of invoice. This will also incur a collection fee of £40. This is in accordance with the law as detailed here: https://www.gov.uk/late-commercial-payments-interest-debt-recovery/charging-interest-commercial-debt
Cancellation
8. If a commission is cancelled by the Client, the Client shall pay a cancellation fee as follows:
(i) 25% of the agreed fee if the commission is cancelled before delivery of roughs / draft artwork;
(ii) 33% of the agreed fee if the commission is cancelled at the rough stage:
(iii) 100% of the agreed fee if the commission is cancelled on the delivery of artwork;
(iv) pro rata if the commission is cancelled at an intermediate stage.
9. In the event of cancellation, ownership of all rights granted under this Agreement shall revert to the Illustrator unless the artwork is based on the Client’s visual or otherwise agreed.
Delivery
10. The Illustrator shall use her best endeavours to deliver the artwork to the Client by the agreed date and shall notify the Client of any anticipated delay at the first opportunity in which case the Client may (unless the delay is the fault of the Client) make time of the essence and cancel the commission without payment in the event of the Illustrator falling to meet the agreed date.
11. The Illustrator shall not be liable for any consequential loss or damages arising from late delivery of the artwork.
12. The Client shall make an immediate objection upon delivery if the artwork is not in accordance with the brief. If such objection is not received by the Illustrator within 21 days of delivery of artwork it shall be conclusively presumed that the artwork is acceptable.
Approval/Rejection
13. Should the artwork fail to satisfy, the Client may reject the artwork upon payment of a rejection fee as follows:
(i) 25% of the agreed fee if the artwork is rejected at the rough stage.
(ii) 50% of the agreed fee if the artwork is rejected on delivery.
14. In the event of rejection, ownership of all rights granted under this Agreement shall revert to the Illustrator unless the artwork is based on the Client’s visual or otherwise agreed.
Changes
15. If the Client changes the brief and requires subsequent changes, additions or variations, the Illustrator may require additional consideration for such work. The Illustrator may refuse to carry out changes, additions or variations which substantially change the nature of the commission.
Warranties
16. Except where artwork is based on reference material or visuals supplied by the Client or where otherwise agreed, the Illustrator warrants that the artwork is original and does not infringe any existing copyright and further warrants that she/he has not used the artwork elsewhere.
17. The Client warrants that any necessary permissions have been obtained for the agreed use of reference material or visuals supplied by the Client or its customer and shall indemnify the Illustrator against any and all claims and expenses including reasonable legal fees arising from the Illustrator’s use of any materials provided by the Client or their customer(s).
Ownership of Artwork
18. The Illustrator shall retain ownership of all artwork (including roughs and other materials) delivered to the Client.
19. The Illustrator’s original artwork shall not be intentionally destroyed, damaged, altered, retouched, modified or changed in any way whatsoever without the written consent of the Illustrator.
Credits/Moral Rights
20. The Client shall ensure the Illustrator is credited in any editorial use of the artwork. Credits for non-editorial use are not required unless so indicated on the front of the form.
21. The Illustrator hereby waives the right to injunctive relief for breaches of the right of integrity and the right of paternity.
Samples
22. Unless otherwise agreed, the Illustrator shall be entitled to receive not less than four proofs or printed copies of the work.
Notices
23. All notices shall be sent to the Illustrator and to the Client at the address stated in this Agreement. Each party shall give written notification of any change of address to the other party prior to the date of such change.
Governing Law
24. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the law of England and Wales and may not be varied except by agreement in writing. The parties hereto submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
Credit & Contact Information.
MEL BARREN ART & DESIGN is located at: MEL BARREN ART & DESIGN, Oakleigh Court, Station Road West, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 9EY, UK.