Publishing licensing contract

Lisa Brazell Cook · 02-09-2005, 08:15 PM

Has anyone here had any experience with publishing / licensing contracts. I know some others also paint landscapes, etc also. I have been offered a contract with a couple of large publishing firms, but I'm not sure how much room there is for negotiation.

Any advice or comments would be helpful. I have been doing a good bit of research online, but there are very few folks with actual experience in this area.

Thank you,
Lisa

Linda Brandon · 02-11-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa Brazell Cook

I have been offered a contract with a couple of large publishing firms, but I'm not sure how much room there is for negotiation.

The problem of multiple suitors is generally a good problem to have. Can you be more specific here? Are you talking about a book illustration project?

Some Forum posters have had experience with work-for-hire contracts. Is this what you're asking?

Lisa Brazell Cook · 02-11-2005, 10:36 PM

No these companies makes prints and posters and distributes them to retail chains and catalogs, they also handle licensing contracts. I will be going to the art-expo in NYC in March. I will let you know how it goes.

Michele Rushworth · 02-12-2005, 11:44 AM

Lisa, this is very exciting. Will you be attending Art Expo as an exhibitor with these print vendors, or as a visitor to check out what else is there?

Also, how did the print vendors find you, or was it vice versa? Will they be making prints of your portrait work and marketing them as figurative images?

Richard Monro · 02-12-2005, 11:47 AM

Lisa,

It took me three months to complete the negotiations on my publishing contract. Make sure that you always maintain the copyright and ownership of the image. Also put a time limit on how long the contract will run. Most companies want to own the image and have no limit on contract span of time. Good for the publishing company, but very bad for the artist. You always want to be able to completely and cleanly terminate a relationship and contract if you become unhappy with the publisher's performance.

Michele Rushworth · 02-12-2005, 12:04 PM

Richard, did things work out well for you in the publishing marketplace? What sort of images do you sell that way?

Richard Monro · 02-12-2005, 08:23 PM

Michelle, the company I signed up with has national distribution. My contract is less than one year old. Since it takes approximately 6 months to get the sales catalogs made and shipped to the sales force, I was told to not to expect any results until after the first year. I was exhibited at the Las Vegas Art Show last year by the publisher (along with about 20 other artists). More interest was generated for my expressionistic figurative paintings and my florals than for my realistic figurative art. However, no sales yet. I have 2 years left to run on the contract with options to renew. Something should start to happen this year...I hope.