Hi,

I'm currently working part-time as a sub-contractor for a small design
studio as well as building up my own design business on the side.

What I am unsure of is where I stand if I want to showcase work that
has been done for them on my own business website... Am I able to show
the work I've done for them and claim it as my own? Or is it the
property of the contractor and their client?

I know that if I was applying for another job, I would be able to use
the work I did for them in my folio, but wonder if the same principles
work if I want to promote the work on my own business website.

Regards,

Marc

on 4/6/07 8:50 am, marckatsambis@gmail.com wrote:


You need to ask the people who own the copyright. And be prepared for them
to say no.

You also can't assume that you can put the work in your portfolio. I was
barred by my previous employer from putting my work for them in my portfolio
in order to get work/another job. This was because they owned the copyright
so they could be as difficult as they liked.

Fortunately I managed to get round this by going against their wishes and
including some of the work anyway. There's always the possibility of being
sued though, I suppose.

marckatsambis@gmail.com wrote:


You say sub-contract; so, do you have a contract with them? If so, the
contract should cover rights and license. Read it. If you have a
contract in writing or implied, but rights and license were not
addressed, then you *may* own copyright depending on the type of work.
If you are work-for-hire then you're probably screwed. For future
reference, obviously, you need to get these things covered in a signed
written agreement to protect your rights and the rights of the end-user.
Depending on the type of work there may be local laws as well as federal
that you may need to check.

Not if you are considered work-for-hire or an employee (even part-time).

For *most* creative works in the US, if there is no written agreement
and you are not work-for-hire or an employee, you own copyright by
default as the author of the work.

inez

Well, there is no written agreement or contract to my employment, so I
guess I'm in a neutral position. I live/work in Australia, so I will
try my best to find some more local info, but I would imagine if I did
post some of the work on my site, it wouldn't be *too* harmful or
risky.

Thanks,

Marc

marckatsambis@gmail.com wrote:
if anything here fits your situation: http://www.copyright.org.au/

Cheers inez