Dealing with publishers and bidding a custom job.

Remember to keep scope of use limited so that you may renegotiate license/use fees upon expansion of scope of use.

Managing your copyrights and potential infringements.

Use copyright notices to promote third-party contact for permission and licensing and to avoid potential innocent infringers. Also, document all potential infringing activities (e.g., screen shots of infringing online materials).

Charging for your art: sources used to value works of authorship.

See "Licensing Royalty Rates" by Gregory H. Battersby and Charles W. Grimes.

How to collect royalties.

The collection of royalties is usually a matter of private arrangements between an author and publisher or other users of the author's work. The Copyright Office plays no role in the execution of contractual terms or business practices. There are, however, copyright licensing organizations and publications rights clearinghouses that distribute royalties for their members.

Copyright Licensing Organizations and Publications Rights Clearinghouses:

• ALCS (Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society, United Kingdom)

• ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)

• The Authors Registry

• BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated)

• CCC (Copyright Clearance Center)

• IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organization)

• MPLC (Motion Picture Licensing Corporation)

• National Writers Union Publications Rights Clearinghouse

• WATCH (Writers, Artists, and Their Copyright Holders)

Related Government Agencies and International Organizations:

• European Copyright User Platform

• Federal Communications Commission

• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)

If you have a cost-saving tip you would like to share on this web site, please send an email to info@iph2.com.