Communigate Pro AE-List@media-motion.tv Message 49737

Sounds like it would be very important to know the "verbiage of the original contract." Why is this not available to you?

All of the work-for-hire I do with major companies explicitly state that any source files I create are their property. That is when I sign a contract. If it was a verbal agreement or a deal hashed out over emails, unless stated at the beginning, the source files belong to the freelancer as their intellectual property. How you proceed obviously depends on what this guy signed. If you can't find that out, and it will make your life easier, pay him. It's not worth the headache of threatening and intimidation. Which never works anyway.

-TG

On Thu, Jun 20, 2013 at 1:40 PM, Michael Kedor <mikedor@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Listers,

I have taken over a show for a team that has a contractor that has handled most of the graphics up to this point.

The idea is for me to complete the edit and graphics for the team. The original contractor has been paid in full, but does not want to release the source AE project files. This is kind of a big deal for me since if there are any tweaks, as surely there will be, I will have to recreate what this contractor did.

Without knowing the verbiage of the original contract, where does the ownership begin and end? What rights do the producers have to that source content? What tactics would you employ to charm the contractor into handing me his project files?

Thank you kindly for your response.

-Mike
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Animator & Editor
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Brooklyn