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Will Mahoney

Editor / Producer / Writer / Director

Pick one: Salary, or Artistic Freedom?	0votes
January 09, 2011 12:58 PM	Views: 166 Favorited: 0 Comments: 0

	Filed Under: Artistic Freedom, Business, Copyright
Tags: Business, Copyright, Ethics

I'm looking for feedback on a huge issue I'm having.

In Short: My employer wants me to sign a generic "Invention Assignment Agreement." This document basically signs away rights to any work I create "which relates to the company's currect or contemplated business..."

Basically, since they pay me to shoot photos and video of automobiles and automobile parts - any auto-related photos or video I take in my free time also belong to them.

This is unacceptable. Unless I directly compete with them, or infringe on their brand in any way - I should be able to create anything I want outside of work without fear of them owning "the rights" to it.

I have so far refused to sign the agreement, and they are unwilling to modify the generic terms to meet the needs of the lone employee that actually produces something.

I know what you're thinking:

"Don't be stupid and walk away from your salary. Just agree not to shoot anything automotive-related. Or shoot it anyways - how are they going to know?"

It's the principle. Unless I infringe on their business, or compete in any way, they are not to tell me what I can and cannot create.

- When I shoot a documentary this spring about rubuilding my Acura for Autocross racing, they would own that footage.

- When I go to a car show in my free time and take photos and video, they would own my photos and video.

This is unacceptable.

I also posted about this issue on the forums at Creative Cow.

(I don't have an account there, and so, my employer's name can stay out of the discussion. But you can see what I do from seeing me on XR, and can maybe give feedback specific to my situation.)

http://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/17/872666

I'd appreciate anyone's feeback.

Thanks,

Will Mahoney

Videographer (maybe?) for Nameless Big AfterMarket Auto Accessory Retailer.