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Graphic Artists Guild
2248 Broadway #1341
New York, NY 10024
Tel: (212) 791-3400
Second only to an artwork’s aesthetic qualities, it is copyright law that drives a work’s value and integrity.
Copyright protects your creative expression, which can take on many forms.
To fully protect your work, register your copyright before infringement.
Learn if you should be considered an employee and receive important benefits.
What should be your first step when your artwork has been stolen?
A list of resources gathered by our illustrator and designer pros for our Ask a Pro webinar.
How can you tell if you as an artist have infringed someone else’s copyrights?
If failed to get a model release from the subject of a work, you may find yourself unable to market your own work.
Jesús Cedeño has published a comprehensive blockchain technology resource guide – a technology which is being implemented to manage creative works rights.
Reproducing an image for comprehensive sketches without permission is illegal.
Don’t assume that work done on-site by an independent contractor automatically belongs to the company.
What are your options if your client refuses to pay you, and you don’t have a contract?
We’ve analyzed the most common myths about protecting your works with copyright and using copyrighted works.
Traditional non-competition agreements apply only to an employment setting.
Not following best practices in website design may subject you and your client to litigation.
These disability symbols advertise your accessibility to anyone who needs access to your building or offices.
Handle potential miscommunications between you and your client.
Can you show your work in your portfolio even if someone else owns the copyright? Is it safe to use copyrighted works in your collages?
The Guild surveyed contest holders, jurors, and entrants to create guidelines for what an ethical contest should and shouldn’t include.
Has your work been infringed on someone’s Web site? What are your legal rights?
Copyright infringement lawsuits are complicated, but sometimes litigation is the only way to go.
Licensing is a 70 billion dollar industry, and “Art Licensing” makes up 10% of all licensing.
There’s often a problem with at least some of the terms of the contract that’s being offered to you.
“Orphan works” are problematic because they are still protected within their terms of copyright, but their owners cannot be contacted.
When a project comes your way, you may tempted to consider compromising your fee, especially if you’re struggling to make ends meet.
We’ve made some of our Handbook’s practical business advice available to you here for download.
The Copyright Office routinely rejects registration applications for graphic design.
Learn the nuts and bolts of starting your own communication design business with this free whitepaper.
The Joint Ethics Committee’s Code of Fair Practice defines an ethical standard for business practices and professional conduct.
The Graphic Artists Guild has endorsed the California bill AB-412, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. The legislation seeks to increase transparency around the use of copyrighted materials to train generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). It requires model developers to provide copyright owners a means by which they could be informed on whether and how their copyrighted works were used for training. The bill also authorizes copyright holders to bring a civil action against developers who fail to respond to a duly submitted request.
In our letter to CA Senate Judiciary Chair, the Guild wrote: “… GenAI is replacing graphic artists in the marketplace, and is doing so by utilizing their artwork – without permission or compensation – for the machine learning required for GenAI image generators to function. Graphic artists need to know when their copyrighted artwork has been utilized for machine learning. Passing this legislation will be groundbreaking and essential for providing artists the information they need to pursue credit and compensation for the use of their copyrighted works.”
Close the deal with a propsective client by sending them your studio’s Letter of Confirmation.
As the owner of a copyright to a work, you have the option to either sell the copyright, or rent it.
The standards for infringement in copyright law and in trademark are actually quite different.
Copyright is subject to certain limitations found in sections 107 through 118 of the Copyright Act.
Designers are hurt by contests which gain artwork and the rights to all the entries with little outlay of cash or prizes.
Here is a list of items that you should discuss with your client before you write up your contract.
