CompuServe Messages

<<What if the animation I create contains a company's copyrighted image? I turned a company's plain, 2D logo into a slick 3D flying logo. The work I did was far from trivial, but since it's based on their artwork, does the freelancer's ownership still apply?>> Copyright law gives the company the explicit right to copy the logo. If you copy the logo in any form and use it for commerical return(there are other infringement critiera) then the company has the right to claim compensation. You would be best to ask the company for permission to use their logo. I assume that you are doing an animation for the company? Are you a freelance animator? If this is correct then without having an explicit contract you own the rights to the animation you produce BUT the company still owns the copyright to the logo. An animation containing a copyrighted work, in this case a logo, is no different from someone writing a book and including some copyrighted text. In both cases the works included are copyrighted and therefore you have to abide by copyright law. I suggest you get permission from the company, or even better in your contract, stating that the animations you make can be used for promotional purposes(this would appear to be the only reason why you would want to reproduce the animation in another form). This is simply my understanding so if there is a lot at stake then I suggest you seek legal help. David "Lego logo is no go" Gould