Posted by Mike Dawson on February 21, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Guys,
I am asking for advice. I have been approached by art.com on providing a series of 15-20 of my seascapes for reproduction as fine art posters. They want a 3 year exclusive right for fine art prints and posters and as I understand payment is royalties only based upon wholesale print sales. Has anyone had experience with art.com good or bad. My first inclination it to turn this down.
Thanks for any advice
Mike
Posted by Ed Cordes on February 21, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Exclusive rights for 3 years and royalty only payment doesn't sound good to me. If they only sell a few posters you will not make much and you will have eliminated your images from inventory for 3 years. I wonder if you asked for some up front payment if it would fly. 15-20 images would be worth something up front plus a percentage of any sales over a certain figure.
As an example, not a suggestion, if you got $1,500 - 2,000 up front and 10% of any GROSS sales over $15,000. Don't take this as price fixing. I am just using the numbers to illustrate my point. You can use your own numbers.
Good luck.
Posted by Mark Windom on February 21, 2008 at 10:27 PM
I have several images with Art.com via my stock agency (not my choice). I have had very few sales, either that or they are not being reported to me.......
If you have no other source, or potential source, for prints or posters for these images such as a stock agency or your own personal contacts then giving it a try couldn't hurt. In saying this I'm assuming that the exclusive rights they are asking for are strictly for prints and posters. If they want all rights for 3 years tell them to take a hike.
Accepting royalty only payment assumes that you trust their crediting and accounting methods. The longer I'm in this business the more skeptical I become. You can counter their offer by asking for payment up front but I don't believe they operate this way.
Don't expect much if you do decide to go ahead.
Posted by Mike Dawson on February 21, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Ed and MArk,
I basically felt that I would ask for up front money and if that was not forthcoming I would pass. I just wanted to see if anyone else had experience with them.
Just another case of someone wanting your hard work and talent for nothing. I wouldn't want my work tied up for three years on just a tiny promise, when in those three years I could make much more in real sales. If they really thought they would rack up in sales they would be eager to lay big bucks in your hand out front.
Discussion
6 repliesI am asking for advice. I have been approached by art.com on providing a series of 15-20 of my seascapes for reproduction as fine art posters. They want a 3 year exclusive right for fine art prints and posters and as I understand payment is royalties only based upon wholesale print sales. Has anyone had experience with art.com good or bad. My first inclination it to turn this down.
Thanks for any advice
Mike
As an example, not a suggestion, if you got $1,500 - 2,000 up front and 10% of any GROSS sales over $15,000. Don't take this as price fixing. I am just using the numbers to illustrate my point. You can use your own numbers.
Good luck.
If you have no other source, or potential source, for prints or posters for these images such as a stock agency or your own personal contacts then giving it a try couldn't hurt. In saying this I'm assuming that the exclusive rights they are asking for are strictly for prints and posters. If they want all rights for 3 years tell them to take a hike.
Accepting royalty only payment assumes that you trust their crediting and accounting methods. The longer I'm in this business the more skeptical I become. You can counter their offer by asking for payment up front but I don't believe they operate this way.
Don't expect much if you do decide to go ahead.
I basically felt that I would ask for up front money and if that was not forthcoming I would pass. I just wanted to see if anyone else had experience with them.
Thanks guys
Mike