Confused about copyright and IP

[jakubrozanski1]

Hi everybody,

 

I wanted to pin point some issues I have recently come across as an artist.

I was employed in one of the arch viz studios. They asked me to do a study project, while the studio was quiet. I decided to come back to one of my university projects, which was modeled and textured before I join the studio. The design of the building was mine, totally. I rendered the scene and did the post production at the studio. There was no client project, no one told me what to do or how to do it. Within few days, I did 2 images. Since then I have left the studio, and I am trying to promote myself on websites like behance, I have recently got an email from my ex employer that I need the permission to these images before I upload them anywhere.

 

Does anybody know if I have any right to those images at all? It was mine design, as an architect, my model, my scene.

 

Can anybody give me some direction please. I would appreciate you help.

[RyderSK]

Technically it is their project as long as:

 

1) You were fully employed by them during the time you did it and

2) They paid you for it.

 

Alternatively, you were "freelancer" for them with contract and billed them for your time during which you worked on this project.

 

Unless you did this in your spare time and "quit time" means they sent you home to work on your own stuff for free. Then it would be your full personal work and you're free to do with it as you wish.

 

The fact that you own what is portrayed 'on' the artwork isn't important to ownership as long as the artwork itself isn't. You own IP to your design, your company owns 'IP' to the image itself.

 

Marketing yourself with work done in past company is very individual and complex topic, often discussed on forums from what I've seen. Asking former employer is the correct procedure to avoid any issues.

 

Personally, this happened to me twice from employer's perspective and I never batted an eye, although it leaves a bit bitter aftertaste if you paid for such projects and won't even see your company name mentioned (after all I provided not only funding, but also know-how).