Custom Work Ownership

[urbnsr]

Hey There,

A piece I make caught the eye of a new customer. They wanted me to take a component of it and incorporate it into a sign for them. I took that component and placed it in a newly designed piece by me which they accepted it, paid for it and seem happy with it. There were no more stipulations on my part.

Now, I find they took my component and had another business incorporate it into printed material to further advertise their business. They did not ask me for any kind of release or even gentleman's agreement.

I'm not sure I will inquire any further about this, but I am now looking for your recommendations on keeping this from happening in the future. I'm not saying I would disagree with a request, but would like the opportunity to think about it. Should my quotes (usually more verbal in these cases) have a hard-line attitude that states that I own the design just in case "Honest Abe" has a conscience?

What I worry about now is that, in the future, someone may see my original piece and think I am copying from MY customer. If they ask, I can attempt to explain (whether they believe it or not), but if they don't say anything to me, well, the rumour mill in a small town comes to mind. I am a small hobby and they have been in business longer which may give them more clout without much more thought.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

[Capstone]

I think many of us have been on both sides of this issue with provided logos to turn into product and when others take our work and produce other forms/advertising using our design. I think it boils down to the business whose name is on the sign has rights to reproduce that sign/design in whatever medium they want. It's a slippery slope if we start telling our customers that they can't use a custom design with their business name on/in it they can't use it on other stuff. And frankly, it's no different if you were to say design a part/component that they then turn around and ask someone else to produce cheaper, unless you take clear steps to protect in writing the original design, provided they didn't come to you with the drawing first.


my .02