I own a freelance business and recently contacted an artist to create a logo for me. The artist responded with a contract stipulating that after creating the logo, I would have a non-exclusive license to do what I wanted, but they retain the right to post the image anywhere they keep their portfolio.<p>Should I be requesting full rights and then agree to license it back to them to display in their portfolio?<p>I guess I'm not really seeing what is protecting me wrt my logo.<p>What have others done to protect their rights wrt to their logo?
Normally exclusive and non-exclusive logos or designs are based on the amount you are paying for the work. Normally the more expensive logos are exclusive and in the contract the designer has a license to display the logo as the work they did for you along with a case study or summary of the client.<p>A non exclusive would not be good for a business as the designer at any time could make small changes and then use that logo for other clients in a template format (You want original work). In which someone else that purchases services from them could them come after you for having a similar logo.<p>It is all in the wording of the contract that you have to careful with. Normally all work by a contractor is owned in full by those paying for the work unless otherwise stated in black and white. If you need further guidance I recommend talking with a lawyer to insure a proper contract is created that is fair to you and any contractors that you may work with.
Usually it's the reverse. You own the full rights, and they have a non-exclusive usage license. I'd also restrict their use in some way, too.
This artist is NOT your choice.<p>You must demand all rights in the artwork, and you may, if you wish, offer the artist, a limited right to display his or her work.<p>You do NOT want to have partial rights to your own logo.<p>You want a work for hire agreement, in which you OWN ALL of the work produced. Hire another artist if this is not acceptable to the artist.