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Intellectual Property

Intellectual property (IP) is the umbrella term for the rights you hold in things you create, including copyright, moral rights, trade marks and, in some cases, design rights. For artists, IP is what allows you to earn from your work beyond a single sale: licensing images for books, products or campaigns, controlling prints and editions, and stopping unauthorised reproductions. Treat your IP as a serious asset. Keep clean documentation of when and how each work was made, store high-resolution masters in your digital archive, and read every contract that mentions reproduction, licensing or assignment. A working knowledge of IP, alongside copyright and moral rights, is one of the most valuable parts of a sustainable professional practice.

Intellectual property (IP) is the umbrella term for the rights you hold in things you create, including copyright, moral rights, trade marks and, in some cases, design rights. For artists, IP is what allows you to earn from your work beyond a single sale: licensing images for books, products or campaigns, controlling prints and editions, and stopping unauthorised reproductions. Treat your IP as a serious asset. Keep clean documentation of when and how each work was made, store high-resolution masters in your digital archive, and read every contract that mentions reproduction, licensing or assignment. A working knowledge of IP, alongside copyright and moral rights, is one of the most valuable parts of a sustainable professional practice.