LauraH wrote:Very true Raven, but if we insisted on keeping the rights to every single thing we create, we'd starve. As Lew says, it's the reality of things, but likewise as Kev says, in an ideal world it wouldn't be! I think every creator has to decide for themselves where their limits of compromise are.
Do you not think the creators are being complicit in their own exploitation though, Laura, if they agree to these Draconian terms? And that as long as it's agreed to, the longer it'll continue?
It's amazing that the conditions where Siegel and Shuster had to hand over the rights to Superman over seventy years ago apparently haven't changed in comics. Imagine if the same conditions applied to book authors. How would JK Rowling be feeling now if she'd handed over the rights to Harry Potter for a one-off low payment per book?
And what if the publisher took your creation off you and gave it to someone else to write and draw, which they'd have every right to do.
I think under those conditions creators should only write for characters created by the companies - if they give you the concept, whether it's Desperate Dan, Lord Snooty or something new they've created, fine. But you should always hold on to your own creations, and the outlet for them will hopefully come. In this age of graphic novels, maybe by approaching book publishers via a professional agent?
