Regarding An Artists Rights

Recently, I've had an increasing number of permission requests to use bits and bobs of my work. More and more I find myself in a predicament where I really don't want to grant permission - primarily because I feel that I don't want my work to be associated with work that shall we say is 'lacking'. However, I also don't want to be seen as the bad guy or as an unreasonable idiot.

Let me explain: I have a job, I go to work, etc etc... then like many of you, I do this as a hobby i.e. I choose to spend my free time making widgets and I consider this my artistic outlet.

I take pride in my work and I'd like to think that my work is synonymous with a certain standard of quality and artistic merit. I don't release something for its own sake, I prefer to make something that is (to a large extent) different from things that I've previously made.

Therefore when someone shows me what they want to make and ask me whether they can use my artwork or if I can forward them my psds (so that they can make it even more fugly!) I don't know what to do?!

Don't get me wrong, for the most part, I'm more than happy to help and share and I'm proud for my work to be associated with the works in question. There have only been two instances where I've clearly refused permission.

This brings me on to those people that release my work as their own or have modified my work in the slightest and claim it to be 'different'. What to do?!

I'm sure many of you will be thinking 'ease up buddy!' or 'get a life... it's not the end of the world' and to those I'd like to say that unless a community protects intellectual rights of individual artists its going to rob itslef of a host of artists/ programmers/ contributors who are going to be put off participation/sharing for fear of their work being twisted and defiled.

What say you?

#176003

You have every right to uphold the integrity of your work... I feel the same way.

Those who ask should understand a decline of their request respectfully and move on...

#176004

I'd say just release your work under a very specific license, granting people whatever privileges you want them to have.

This way you don't have to be bothered by everyone. Just make your terms clear.

May I suggest a Creative Commons License? It's the best of both worlds. You maintain a variable amount of control over your work, while still enabling people to exercise their fair use rights.

http://creativecommons.org

My opinions on Intellectual Property are probably a little different from the rest of the communities. I won't go into a whole rant, but remember to keep things in perspective. Intellectual Property has been abused by many people (RIAA, among others), and it takes A LOT of guts to claim that you own an idea.

I'm not saying everything should be public domain, but be humble. If someone takes inspiration from your art, or uses it non commercially/personally, just remember why you do art. Is it not to help and inspire other people? Have we really hurt Apple here?

This isn't necessarily aimed at you Tadis, but a general reminder to this and other online art communities, who are so vehement about IP "rights" (they're not really rights at all). In fact, you questioning exactly how much control you want over your art is a good thing. Too often people become Nazis about this stuff. No offense to Alilm: but one license he released his (very nice) icons under made it illegal to actually DOWNLOAD the icons he was offering.

As well, before people start shouting "you're using my art illegally", remember that this is a very complicated subject. Most of the time, the person "ripping" you is completely within their rights. IP law favors the public. I'm only a paralegal, so my grasp of the law isn't complete either.

Required reading is "The Economy of Ideas" by John Perry Barlow:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.03/economy.ideas.html

#176009

i support you totally tadis.

you have been one of the godfathers of widgets in samurize and your have always given pple the security of knowing that your work is complety polished and well done.

knowing you, instead of saying no, you will probably TEACH the person and walk him through the making of a widget like you did with me. Your help was very important in the days when i was learning samurize and it`s secrets. My advice is to say yes when you`re sure that your work will not be used in a way that would affect your integrity and your reputation.

thanks for your incredible contribution to this community.

#176014

just because somebody is going to release something that is worse than the 'original' doesn't mean you have to shut them down.

just require a link to your page, referring to the original widget/etc. and the 'consumer' will be able to decide.

basically, you'll just be fostering learning and different tastes.

because, really do you want to waste your valuable time refereeing the descendants of your work (this is aside from those who would attempt to make money from your work)

in addition to contr's good link, freeculture by lawrence lessing is a good read/listen too:

listen or read

taken in the sense of why not let the 'little guys' (ie. learners) make their own mistakes but still offer your aid (in the form of resources) to make their learning process easier.

#176032

@Unbeliever

Thanks for the lift-me-up buddy!

@Contra

I'm trying to stay away from the issues of 'property' and 'ownership' - I'm not arguing the case that 'I made it... it's mine.. so I'll decide how, where, when its used/applied... etc' - as the case unfortunately is in most IP battles.

I really don't want to include a licence - IMHO it shouldn't be needed in a non-commerical/art setting. I do want to help and inspire people, I do want them to modify my work or put a new twist to it, frankly I love to see the 'evolution' of art as it were.

I just want my basic rights as per copyright (I won't insult your academics too much) i.e. artistic/integrity rights - no mention of property or ownership.

This is why it's frustrating when I see things like:

[release] I'm so celever, i incoprorated a txet fiel into a pic made by someon eles

[release] I maid this bi ading a pixle in the botom-left coner of someon else png (magnifi to see)

You get the picture (and I'm not even joking about the pixel thing)

@reality

I don't want to shut anyone down, but I don't want my work associated with what they've produced either - requiring them to have a link to my site would totally defeat my objective.

I would have it that they are free to download, look at, learn from, copy the concept/style/function etc... but not copy to an almost 1:1 standard i.e. with a few pixels changed here and there.

#176055

I get where you're comming from. It's like someone hanging a picture of the mona lisa holding an ice cream cone or something. It makes the original look so kitsch. You have every right to protect your hard work and your dignity. You shouldn't feel bad about it!

#180924

it is your right to choose whether your work shall be used by others! it is YOUR work. however, if there is a way to change your work such that someone can turn it into something completely unique and great in its own nature (like the Grey album..) it should be made! of course you understand this and probably want to keep this sort of work around, and it is your choice to deem who is worthy.

#181488

if there is a way to change your work such that someone can turn it into something completely unique and great in its own nature (like the Grey album..) it should be made!

No it shouldnt because its not completely unique.

#181489

im not questioning you, but you think that the grey album was right to have been banned? see i think that you can use someone elses work just as long as you use it to create something else, and it odesn't feel like you are mooching. when you mix jay-z and the beatles, and mix it sorta technoish, i personally think that warrants it to be free from any copyright infringement laws. theres some clause about that written somewhere in the US laws, but i guess not in other countries?

seriously, if we all take ownership too seriously (of course credit must be given out though) then we'll get nowhere. for example, the dude that wants permission to use weather icons from another guy so that he can release a COMPLETELY separate project thats been on hold forever (its ready, he just needs permission)....it just seems to me like its hard to advance when we all try to hoard ownership. i say give it out and put the guy that made the icons' name in the readme.

#184556

Originally posted by noefexx+Jul 1 2004, 01:42 PM-->

QUOTE(noefexx @ Jul 1 2004, 01:42 PM)

...seriously, if we all take ownership too seriously (of course credit must be given out though) then we'll get nowhere...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think you're missing the point, its not about ownership or credit (or at least it shouldn't be), rather its about artistic merit and vision, basically its about ART.

When a person is expressing themselves in any artistic forum, the work that is produced is (or should be) to some extent a reflection on that person and as such IMO they should have a right to decide on its use/application.

#184566