If I need an artist to draw me a few pictures to use for a T-shirt idea that I have, is there a form that I should have them sign to prevent them from stealing/using my design?
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If I need an artist to draw me a few pictures to use for a T-shirt idea that I have, is there a form that I should have them sign to prevent them from stealing/using my design?
After I have these drawings, I will copyright/trademark the pictures.
Asked on March 20, 2013 under Business Law, California
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
What you need is an intellectual property agreement and contract. You want to address two different issues. The first is that any of your ideas are your intellectual property and he agrees not to use them for any other projects. Second, you want a contract that expresses that anything developed during the employment is your exclusive property. These seem like two separate issues-- but they are really two different issues that are closely related. The first clause would protect the ideas. The second clause would prevent him/her from taking samples and showing them elsewhere. If you are going to continue in this business and could potentially employ a couple of different artists, consider hiring an attorney that is familiar with intellectual property law and copyright laws to help you draft a standardized contract that you can reuse with each artist you hire.
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