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I was reading Stefan Poag’s post Do I know how to be a famous artist? He lists some questions he thinks artists should answer for themselves. The question “How to make sure that anyone who’s interested in your art is able to buy something, regardless of how little or how much they have to spend” reminded me of something...
Do I know how to be a famous artist?
What I would like to see is **a simple, semi-automated process** on artists’ websites. Artists would post cool pictures and they’d all include the following:
1. a link to a nice resolution picture (not quite fit for printing but fit for the web, eg. 600x600)
2. a PayPal or Flattr or whatever button saying “**license this** for $5” (or $2 or $10, whatever you find will result in sales)
3. a link to a license saying that paying the amount grants me *unlimited, non-exclusive rights* to use and distribute it in digital form (or in any form, or print for an additional $5?) for commercial use or for non-commercial use with the requirement to link back to the page where I pressed the button (so that others can license it as well)
I feel that’d be better than a tipping jar but still not as convoluted as the usual process. There is no email exchange required. I don’t get to decide anything about the piece – but perhaps some people will approach the artist with adaptations they’d like to see, in which case you do your usual sales process.
I don’t know whether this would have led to a ton of sales, but I’m sure I would have spent maybe $10 or $20 on little stuff like that; things I can use on my blog, on my campaign wikis, submit to Fight On! (where upon I’d maybe pay the little extra required for a print product).
I think as a small artist it’s important to not waste money with a lawyer. Keep it short and simple. You won’t be going to court anyway – if people are not going to pay then that’s “shrinkage” on the web or whatever you want to call it. But give those people who *want* to buy something small an option.
Do you think it’d work?
☯
As for my own lousy drawings, they’re available for free because I wouldn’t pay for them myself. 🙂
#RPG #Web #Copyright
