Copyright and Licenses

Copyright
Copyright automatically belongs to the creator unless it is transfers and stated in writing. Owning the copyright means that you are free to reproduce work as you wish, edit in any way you want and sell it worldwide. Selling the copyright means I can no longer put my name on the work, use it in my portfolio, or advertise myself. That’s why I license my work.

License
Licensing is an agreement that allows you to use my work for your required commercial purposes without paying for a copyright transfer. A license is a permission I give you to use my illustration and to define the boundaries of how you can use my art work.

The license fee
If you want to sell products with my illustration or design on it, licensing can take the form of royalties (percentage of 5-8% on each item sold) or a flat fee. Licensing details will be written in a contract.

Factors affecting the cost of a license fee
1. Usage: What will the design be used for? On which products do you want to put the design on? How big is your business? 
2. Territory: Where will the products be sold? The wider the use, the higher the cost.
3. Duration: How long would you like to be able to use the design for?

Exclusive | non-exclusive
When art work is licensed as exclusive, you will be the only one to be able to use the work for the agreed territory and duration. 

A non-exclusive license gives you the right to use the artwork but does not restrict other form licensing it as well. 

Buyout
With a buyout you can use my designs without restrictions. The licensing fee will be much higher than a limited licensing. Please note that a buyout is not a copyright transfer. I retain the right to be recognized as the author of the design, and I may use the image for self-promotion.