publishing beyond borders
ARTOONATOR | 06/26/2007 @904 | edit post

Hi A chinese editor approached me yesterday, asking if I'd be interested in publishing my work in one of their books called 'commercial arts'. My question is; Does anyone have experience with international publishing and how to make sure author's rights are maintained there? I heard that this is different from contracting in one's own country. Especially China..... Please help Arne

Re: publishing beyond borders
bigkate | 06/26/2007 @908 | edit post

talk to Trenchmaker (Anne) on DA. I think she has dealt with this. http://trenchmaker.deviantart.com/

Re: publishing beyond borders
ARTOONATOR | 06/26/2007 @913 | edit post

Thanks Kate, I'll do that.

Re: publishing beyond borders
trenchmaker | 06/27/2007 @981 | edit post

hn.... o_o The problem is what exactly you wanna know. There are huge problems with controlling your copyright is protected since you cannot control everything they do with your work. The most important thing is that those points are strictly clarified in your contract. And you should ask for a contract since those things are the basics as well for all cases of copyright abusage. Thinks on the checklist would be: duration of LICENSING (you should try to sell the pictures/ illustrations via license which means a certian period of time, an exact listing of the things they can use it in, do you get a sample or more, who´s your contact and what happens if they do not handle things right) payment... don´t have to mention that all asian countries don´t pay that well... >_> I did some stuff for Korea and the price was a laugh but anyway... depends on: Want the PR or not? I have some contracts form the US and Australia (Flying bark studios). Normaly you have to be very careful with the "small printed additional" stuff that comes AFTER the real contract. Those are often the more important paragraphs- you should keep an eye on those. language .... every time you get to know something COMPLAIN. Sometimes the partner won´t speak English anymore (although they absolutely DO)... and that´s why: contract first. I won´t be on GFX that often.... I don´t even know if I posted anything new. Atm I have some problems with a polish mobile company... Therefore mail or dev-pn >_> .... :anne: If you already have all the information and trust me halfheartly you could send me the stuff you got or Martin might be able to make up a second checklist for u. I will talk with my agency within the upcoming week and my contract-guru (Martin) knows the international business better than me, That´s why I ring him every time I or a friend of mine has a problem with some phrases nobody can understand. cheers, anne

Re: publishing beyond borders
ARTOONATOR | 06/27/2007 @466 | edit post

Thanks! Since Martin's also Dutch I'll contact him if necessary, it's easier that way. For now it looks like all is legitimate, I just received a license agreement that looks ok, allthough they are asking for work that was allready licensed by othere clients. I got their permission since it's a showcase book, for personal promotion. Nevertheless, they have to make some changes since they want to exclude all other license-owners. I'm waiting for their answer on that request. Often you can also tell a lot from persistence. If they keep replying after my picky questions they must reaaly want it.

Re: publishing beyond borders
Wysiwyg | 06/28/2007 @798 | edit post

I'm making this sticky topic, good info you shouldn't have to search for.

Re: publishing beyond borders
ARTOONATOR | 06/30/2007 @433 | edit post

Well if so; Martin, could you share some knowledge right here on the spot?