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06/08/2005 12:08:39 PM · #1 |
I need some advice please.
I have had a request to use one of my images as a company logo. Which I guess means I can't sell the image elsewhere.
I need advice about any restrictions I should put on usage, and what I should expect in payment.
At the moment I have to find out if they are a small back street org or a multi-national corporation, its not clear yet as the request has come in through an agent.
Any help appreciated
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06/08/2005 12:42:26 PM · #2 |
I have absolutely no experience with this so everything I say is just opinion.
I'll think you'll have a hard time limiting the use on a logo. They're going to use it for everything. The logo becomes part of that company's image and as such that image will become that company. If you give them the image you can pretty much write it off. Of course the size of the company does change how widely exposed it will be seen.
I have no idea about price but I would imagine you could get quite a bit seeing as it does not appear to be RF or RM. |
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06/08/2005 12:44:50 PM · #3 |
Sell it for 20 cents...just kidding, I'm trying to bug moody! ;0)
Anyway, I agree with her...if this is a reasonably sized company, you could pick up some cash here.
Hopefully someone with more experience can advise you whether you should charge a big one-time fee or collect royalty...
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06/08/2005 12:47:35 PM · #4 |
Absolutely. Throw out a price.. say $3000usd or whatever you may think is reasonable.. If they say no... Let them talk you down until you get to the lowest price you would possibly want to get from it. If they don't go that low, let them go somewhere else..
Also take into consideration the profits you have made on the image, if it is $0 - any number they offer may be the only profit you will ever make. Try to gage the future of the piece and price it accordingly.
That's what I'd do, but I've never had this happen either... Good luck! |
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06/08/2005 12:57:58 PM · #5 |
You will need to sell them all rights to the image; they will become the owners of the image. Its value depends entirely on who they are NOW, incidentally. Hypothetical:
Your neighbor Joe has a successful "chain" of 3 restaurants in your urban area specializing in steamed insects. He hopes to begin franchising the concept, and is putting together his "identity"; he saw your image of the rainbow-hued tropical cicada and feels it would be perfect for his logo.
You can't charge Joe the same price, at this stage, as you would if he were already successful; right now his future usage of your image is entirely speculative, whatever money he invests in this potential franchising arrangement is, statistically, money down the drain.
Maybe Joe has an automotive shop and wants to spiff up his image locally? Does he lust after your shot of the Turbo-Converse-Ginacallita on the lawn outside the undertaker's parlor?
I've never sold an image to a wannabe national franchiser, but I have sold a few to local businesses to do with as they please. I charged, I believe, $400.00 or $500.00, and this would have been in the mid 90's. These were "stock" images in the sense that they had already been shot, but never used commercially. I sold the originals to the clients and that was the end of it. Bear in mind, though, that I was an established pro and also a graphic designer at that time, for whatever that's worth.
All I can say is, try to scope out what the market will bear and then grab it for yourself.
Robt.
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06/08/2005 12:59:46 PM · #6 |
Hey there -- great news on that!
I'm a graphic designer/illustrator, and logo pricing is always rather shocking to customers.
The thing to remember yourself, and remind the customer of, is that you're not selling a photo or a sketch or a type treatment, -- i.e. you're not selling the labor -- you're selling the ability to create a long-lasting image that will serve to reinforce the companies identity over time. The value is driven by the service a good logo delivers.
The cheapest I've ever done a logo was $500, and that was for a friend who needed "something" to put on a business card when he started a proofreading company. I.E. infrequent, informal useage of the logo.
The lowest rate I'd even consider for an estabilshed corporate client is $1500. If they have high-visibility logo demands, then it needs to cost significantly more.
The Graphic Artists Guild has a yearly publication of pricing guidelines, and they might be available from a bookstore.
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06/08/2005 01:12:47 PM · #7 |
All I can say is that a photo for use as a logo is not normally a good idea. Logos are more effective and versatile as simple shapes, symbols or typographic forms due to implementation in various forms and media (small, mono, printed in spot colours, etc).
You need to know whether it's for a top level corporate identity, sub-brand or product before costing it though. Feel free to contact me for any help on this (it's what I do!). |
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06/11/2005 03:42:36 PM · #8 |
I recently encountered the same dilemma you now find yourself. First, the company is going to have to have exclusive rights to that image, in whole and/or part. Since you have been approached by an agent, it is most likely the company has means to compensate you fairly for your work, which alanbataar has aptly pointed out, includes your creativity. If you have not already done so, ask the agent who they represent; they probably won’t tell you but they might. You might then research the agent/agent’s company to determine how deep the pockets are. If possible, do not sell the image and rights, retain them and license it to the company with an agreed upon royalty schedule. You’ll need legal representation, that has experience with intellectual property, to structure the deal, which will not be cheap, but, if this is even a small to medium size corp. it will be worth it. If they insist on ownership, ask them to make an offer. They may offer far more than you would have expected. Don’t short change yourself and settle for less than you think it is worth, there may be other offers in the future.
Good Luck!
Here are two websites you should consult for good info:
//www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wci
//www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/index.html
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