O
oogy99
Guest
I am a graphic designer and professor at a university in Washington. About 5 years ago, another professor contacted me and asked me if I would be willing to design a book for her. She had received a grant for the project and offered me an honorarium of $1,500 to design the book. The book was then estimated to be approximately 64 pages.
During the next 5 years, I designed the 10 individual chapters of the book as I was given the text by this Professor. The final page count of the book turned out to be 232 pages -- significantly over the original estimate.
At this larger size, the original printing budget was insufficient. Therefore, I co-wrote and received two grants with the other professor to fund the expanded printing bill. These grants brought an additional $20K to the project. I also agreed to reduce my honorarium to $1000 from the original $1500 so that an additional photographer could be hired.
Conservatively, I estimate that I have now spent approximately 1000 hours designing the book over the period of five years. This past April the book was printed and I thought my commitment to the project was over.
However, recently the other professor demanded that I now turn over all digital files (image scans and layout program files) of the book to her. She wants to publish the images in journal articles, and perhaps even create a second edition of the book.
Do I have to give these files to her? We have no written or verbal agreement regarding the files. Could I be sued for not giving her the files?
During the next 5 years, I designed the 10 individual chapters of the book as I was given the text by this Professor. The final page count of the book turned out to be 232 pages -- significantly over the original estimate.
At this larger size, the original printing budget was insufficient. Therefore, I co-wrote and received two grants with the other professor to fund the expanded printing bill. These grants brought an additional $20K to the project. I also agreed to reduce my honorarium to $1000 from the original $1500 so that an additional photographer could be hired.
Conservatively, I estimate that I have now spent approximately 1000 hours designing the book over the period of five years. This past April the book was printed and I thought my commitment to the project was over.
However, recently the other professor demanded that I now turn over all digital files (image scans and layout program files) of the book to her. She wants to publish the images in journal articles, and perhaps even create a second edition of the book.
Do I have to give these files to her? We have no written or verbal agreement regarding the files. Could I be sued for not giving her the files?