When you create a design, decide what to do with it next. Whether you retain the rights or transfer them to others, it is important to understand exactly what you are giving away.
Non-exclusive license
You allow the client to use your design, but you retain the rights. You can sell the work to someone else. The client uses the design, but cannot prohibit you or others from doing the same.
Who it’s for:
This is how designers who create fonts or stock graphics work. You develop a font and offer it to different companies. Each company uses the font in their projects, but you still retain ownership of the font. You can sell it to other clients. None of them can prevent you from doing so because the font remains yours. You decide who else can use it.
Exclusive license
You give the rights to the design to only one client. They get full rights to use it, and you can no longer sell or license this work to others. But you remain the author, and your name will be associated with it.
Who it’s for:
This is how designers who create exclusive solutions for big brands work. You designed a logo for a company and transferred all rights to it. Now only this company can use the logo, and you cannot sell it to anyone else. But your name will always remain associated with this project. You are the author, and that is a fact, even if the rights of use belong to the client.
Copyright alienation
You transfer all rights to the design. Now the work belongs to another person or company. You can no longer use, sell, or control it in any way. The new owner disposes of it at their discretion. This step is final — you lose control over your creation forever.
Who it’s for:
This is how designers work when they sell the rights to their work to large corporations or when creating custom designs. You developed a corporate identity for a brand and transferred all rights to it to the company. Now the design belongs to them, and you can no longer use it in other projects, sell it, or control it in any way. The company decides what to do with your work next, and you lose access to it forever.
Copyright agreement
When working on commission, always sign a contract. Specify who gets the rights to the finished work, when you will complete it, and how much you will receive for it. The contract protects you and the customer, eliminates misunderstandings, and sets the terms.
Who it’s for:
A copyright agreement is suitable for any designer who works on commission. Whether you draw logos, create websites, or make illustrations, without a contract you could be left without money and without rights to your work. With a contract, everything is simple: the client receives the finished work, and you receive payment. Such a contract protects your interests and leaves no room for disputes.
Adhesion contract
An adhesion contract in design is when the customer sets the terms and you simply agree or disagree. No discussion: deadlines, money, rights to the work — everything has already been decided for you. You are given a ready-made contract and told, “Here, either work according to these rules or look for another project.” It’s convenient for the customer, but it can be a trap for you if you don’t read it carefully.
Who it’s for:
An adhesion contract is ideal for designers when they need to quickly conclude an agreement with a client. It is a standard document where the terms and conditions have already been written by you. The client only has to agree to them or refuse. This type of contract is convenient to use if you offer standard services, such as logo development or web page design.