Ownership issue

[pcbranding]

Have a look at this site and give them a call...Intellectual Property Advice for Creative Businesses - Own-it London

[lauralil]

Hi again.

As suspected, the publisher was completely unaware that the designs didn't belong to them. I explained the freelance vs employee copyright and license but was simply not believed. But as I'd said, files or not, the payment is outstaning and is a separate issue anyway.

So, can anyone point me in the direction of a professional body that looks after the interests of designers or more generally perhaps, creators? I know of bodies for photographers, illustrators architects etc but not aware of graphic design.

Thank you

try this, some good information there. I went to an intellectual rights seminar last week, really interesting stuff...particularly for digital work such as our line of work.

The Open Rights Group

good luck :)

[tbradley3003]

You can try Trading Standards in your area, log your claim and they'll investigate by contacting the publisher on your behalf. If they succeed you get your money if not you can take him to a small claims court but it might end up costing you more. This publisher does not strike me as very professional at all and looks like he's trying everything to avoid payment. You could always send him a press ready pdf with all the fonts embedded that he can print from but won't be able to pass the file on to another designer to do the next edition. You worked hard and deserve to be treated fairly so wish you the very best.