Ask Mark Your Tough Questions About the Business

Hosted by Mark Monlux from the Seattle chapter, find common questions and uncommonly helpful answers addressing a variety of art business issues.

Click on a topic below to get started or take a look at the topics listed on the left.

• When Does the Law Consider a Work Copied?
• Is Typeface Copyrighted?
  It is true that the USA Copyright Office does not copyright typeface design. However, that does not mean that typeface does not have some restrictions...
• Contractors, Copyright & Licensing - What rights do you have to promote your own work?
  Two questions give different perspective on a common problem regarding artist's promoting work done for a client.
• Can Websites Be Copyrighted?
• Steps to Protecting Your Rights
• I want to present my cartoons to a magazine for consideration. What security do I have that they will not copy the ideas?
• An Explanation of Fair Use 
  The distinction between “fair use” and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined.
• What is Parody as Fair Use? Some forms of copyright infringement have become so socially, politically or culturally the norm that such use is deemed Fair Use.
• Pre-Contract Checklist* (A must-read!)
• Contractless in Seattle – I’ve done the job and now my client won't pay me what they owe me. What do I do now?
• What’s the Lowest Price? I am tempted to consider a low-paying gig and possible compromises...
• Networking Tips
• T-Shirt Trekkie I would like to sell caricatures on t-shirts of famous and fictional people.
• Do I need to charge a sales tax?
• What is a billable expense?

More about Mark:

Nationally known for his estimating insight and knowledge, Mark Monlux has spoken to groups of artists and illustrators in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago about how to quickly and accurately produce near instant budgets.

Mark Monlux is an award-winning illustrator with clients across the U.S. A member of the SPGA/Seattle Chapter since 1987, he serves the chapter in the role of Ethics Chair, and has been Weekly E-newsletter Editor. He also has served four years with the Guild internationally as its Secretary/Treasurer

www.markmonlux.com

© 2009 All Dear Mark materials are copyrighted by Mark Monlux, and may not be reproduced in any way without expressed written permission.

DISCLAIMER: To the best of my action or belief the material posted on “Dear Mark” discusses general principles of law in response to issues of concern to the illustration community. Nothing posted by Mark Monlux should be construed to be a substitute for advice of counsel regarding the specific facts and circumstances of an individual case. Laws and their interpretation differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Legal advice addressing a specific situation should be sought from an attorney duly licensed in the appropriate jurisdiction.