gemstone

[Rune Kristian Viken]

Monday 25. november 2002 22:33 john garvin wrote:

> As I've written on this list many times over the years, I think
> Disney's (and Egmont's) work-for-hire policies are a disgrace. 

If that is their policy, that is what one has to live with, and what 
THEY have to live with, if they do not modify it from time to time.  

> These are just my opinions and I'm not starting any letter writing
> campaigns, but it really is too bad that this is even an issue.  Is
> there really anyone who thinks it is fair that a publisher, even
> Gemstone, has the moral right to make money over and over again from
> work that was paid for just once? 

It is perfectly fair.  If the initial agreement is "You get paid THIS 
amount to do THIS for us" then that is it.  I don't see why a city 
cannot hire a company to build a bridge - pay for it, and then 
continue to use it for as long as its usable.  I don't see why the 
construction company should get a certain sum per car passing the 
bridge.

If the initial agreement is that every car that passes the bridge has 
to cough up $1 which goes straight into the construction company's 
coffers, then thats okay too.

> Most other forms of entertainment and publishing enterprises long ago
> started paying their creators royalties and a share of the profits.

Indeed.  However, I do not see why this is "the only way it should be 
done". 

> The wonder is not that Don Rosa is on strike now, the wonder is that
> he ever agreed to these terms in the first place [..]

He did, he has survived until now on them (I think?).  I can understand 
him, however.  He's _THE_ most sought after disneycomics-creator, with 
an incredible fan-base all over Europe. He knows that people _are_ 
willing to cough up more money because his art is incredible.


I'll have to add a thing about copyrights here.  I tend to dislike the 
way copyright is implemented today.  I really do think that people 
should be allowed to copy/give on what they've bought, and give to 
friends and so forth.  If the artist want to be paid more, then they 
can go on strike.  Which Don Rosa has done - and which for I greatly 
respect him.  If the public really want the artists story, they'll get 
a better contract.

Well, it COULD've been that way anyways.  The problem in this case is 
that Disney probably has some obscure "rights" to prevent others from 
releasing Donald/Mickey/and-so-forth stories without their agreement 
(I'm not sure though).  Thus, Don/others can't go freelance and 
release things to the general public on their own, I think?  If they 
could, Don could surely finance himself by releasing his own books :)

-- 
Rune Kristian Viken