Do you have these problems with contracts?

[ShawnYe]

I've recently finished some illustrations for rpg publishers. The job is completed more than a month ago but I still have not receive the contracts that I have sent back to them like two months back nor did I receive any money yet. I'm wondering is this common for the delays or is this not safe.

I always get frightened about signing contracts since I'm not very familiar with all the terms. Do you usually get someone like a lawyer to help you with the contracts? Is there anyway that I can learn more about copyrights?

I saw this thread regarding starting a new forum about legal rights; LEGAL TOPICS FOR ARTISITS (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=9380&highlight=copyrights) , is this forum really coming to live? I think it sounds great too.

Thanks for reading and appreciate any help.
Shawn

[jemstone]

Speaking as someone with many contacts within the RPG industry, and occassionally contracts artists to do work within my own small-press publications, no, this is not usual, and yes, you should be very wary.

The typical setup that I've seen has been this:

1: The Company contacts the Artist and makes a request for artwork, detailing what is needed and when.

2: The Artist says yes or no, and the Company makes an offer of money.

3: The Company sends the artist a contract, which details all the particulars, including fees, publication date estimates, and the like. Somewhere in there, the contracts are signed by both parties. Regardless of how this is done, the artist gets to keep one copy.

4: The artist does the work, per the contract, and is paid for each piece finished (if not all pieces are finished, the money is less). Usually the pay comes in 30 days after publication for writers (what I have more experience with), sometimes earlier than that for artists.

If you have not recieved your contract copy, you should NOT submit your work to the company. I would encourage you to get in touch with your contact there IMMEDIATELY and ask where your contract is. This will protect BOTH you and the company, in the long run, and if he/she complains about your asking for the contract, be firm and inform them that the more legal all things are made, the safer BOTH parties are.

It's just good sense. :)

-JEM

[wronghand]

You might try this illustration site,

http://www.theispot.com/arttalk/

They have a legal section with lawyers who are very insightful. You can ask
questions or read through the archive, likely someone has already asked
a similiar question. I've learned alot from visiting the ispot.
W. Hand

[LiL QoH]

You should pick up the book Legal Guide for the Visual artist, it has everything you need to know in it about that legal shtuff.

[ShawnYe]

Thank you so much. I'll take these in mind. Thanks for the link too, I'll definately check that out and find the book. This is a great help, appreciated.

shawn