I'm almost at the point of selecting a screenprinter and sending my shirts to be completed...
Currently, I'm getting estimates from various vendors...
I was asked by one to send over the designs before they could adequately reply... Now I KNOW or feel rather... this makes sense... but since it is my first time... I feel a little hesitant sending over all the images... for fear they could take them and print them for themselves... and without any copyrights... I wouldn't have a leg to stand on...
Am I just being paranoid... or should I look eslewhere for estimates...
Well, what's the difference with sending them now or sending them after you award them the job? They can steal them then too.
I wouldn't quote on a job without at least seeing what it was I am suppose to print. Otherwise, how can you get an accurate estimate? You are obviously dealing with established businesses. They see and print thousands of designs a yyear. They have better things to do than go around and steal people's artwork.
If it's that big a worry for you, you should copyright your material. Otherwise, what's going to stop me from stealing it when i see someone wearing it on one of your shirts?
I'm almost at the point of selecting a screenprinter and sending my shirts to be completed...
Currently, I'm getting estimates from various vendors...
I was asked by one to send over the designs before they could adequately reply... Now I KNOW or feel rather... this makes sense... but since it is my first time... I feel a little hesitant sending over all the images... for fear they could take them and print them for themselves... and without any copyrights... I wouldn't have a leg to stand on...
Am I just being paranoid... or should I look eslewhere for estimates...
thanks....
If this is a concern, find a screenprinter that doesn't sell retail.
We use Vantage. I'm newer to the business, I am sure there are others.
One of the selling points to our contract work is that we do not sell retail. Design Ideas are borrowed all the time in this industry. I wonder how the person feels that first came up with the idea of a distressed looking image? Do your research for a reputable company, ask for references and take the plunge. By the way if you would be interested in receiving a quote from us, we would be glad to assist you.
One of the selling points to our contract work is that we do not sell retail. Design Ideas are borrowed all the time in this industry. I wonder how the person feels that first came up with the idea of a distressed looking image? Do your research for a reputable company, ask for references and take the plunge. By the way if you would be interested in receiving a quote from us, we would be glad to assist you.
I agree you should find a "reputable" company. However, you will never be able to 100% eliminate a chance of your designs being "borrowed." Don't reputable companies have employees? Don't employees have friends? Major printing ability with lower costs than the customer?Don't owners of these companies have power to print whatever they wish and perhaps sell them retail under someone else?
So...if you are so confidential, are you telling us that you have never printed distressed graphics with respect to the "inventor" of distressed prints? Or even foil prints? Or perhaps you shouldn't bother printing solid spot colors as someone had to have figured that one also. hmmmm....
Rather, just tell the man he should be confident and comfortable with the shop he chooses as there are some aspects to try limiting the chance of stolen graphic but never a guarantee. Like I said, most printers have bigger things to worry about lol.
You have to trust your new partner, so you have to date quite a few. I would get references from local screen printing suppliers. You don't tell us where you are, so it would take forever for us to suggest printers in UK, Australia, Austria, Poland, Florida, Indiana, California or Japan.
Your potential bootlegger would be mighty stupid to sell your designs in his retail store in your city, so I question whether a retail operation is important when UPS can ship coast to coast. If you are having the design printed too far away to supervise, it still doesn't help you. My friend Mark Payden of Two's Company in Rhode Island sued the same man 5 times over a 10 year period - with evidence of purchases in Key West, FL before he was ever able collect a judgment and close down his latest shop. It cost him millions to collect millions - but did finally collect.
A watermark in the composite art won't help when they actually print the design.
Why don't you have copyrights if you are worried?
Alas, copy rights are not any guarantee except to document the date you exerted your copy rights. Copyright has to be enforced by the owner, whether it is Versace or little Jennifer down the street. Damages have to be proven in court so a judge grants you a cash award you may never be able to collect. $400 per hour to prosecute the case on your registered copyright image - undoubtedly with a retainer to start.
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How are you measuring? Ulano Technical Product Manager - NYC
Last edited by RichardGreaves; July 4th, 2008 at 10:08 AM.
I have had this conversation a thousand times with customers with supplied art...
"This is the hottest design- ever, I know it will sell, I dont want anybody to steal it, I need you to sign this contract stating that the artwork belongs to me exclusively.."
All that for a 150.00 to 200.00 order.. Please!
I do more than 300 designs per year. Printed over 15,000 shirts in the last 3 months. And I'm SMALL.
No printer has the time or money to steal an unproven design, re work it for printing, burn screens, set-up the machine, buy blanks, print them, and then sell them. I'd make 10 times the $/hr just printing for a paying customer, why bother?
This is to all artists, if your artwork is so fantastic, it'll make you a million dollars, why not invest in a large order and sell them yourself and make the million and let me do what I get paid to do. That's why I chose to manufacture and not to sell retail- you all can have that side of the game.
If you chose to copyright that's fine, just be aware, the police is not going to confiscate bootlegged shirts for you- you're too small, and you're not paying them to do so. If the Chineese can bootleg Nike, how do you intend to stop someone from stealing your artwork? It costs money and time to sue, neither of which a small artist has. Just focus on getting your stuff out there and making some sales, then worry about someone stealing it.
I have had this conversation a thousand times with customers with supplied art...
"This is the hottest design- ever, I know it will sell, I dont want anybody to steal it, I need you to sign this contract stating that the artwork belongs to me exclusively.."
All that for a 150.00 to 200.00 order.. Please!
I do more than 300 designs per year. Printed over 15,000 shirts in the last 3 months. And I'm SMALL.
No printer has the time or money to steal an unproven design, re work it for printing, burn screens, set-up the machine, buy blanks, print them, and then sell them. I'd make 10 times the $/hr just printing for a paying customer, why bother?
This is to all artists, if your artwork is so fantastic, it'll make you a million dollars, why not invest in a large order and sell them yourself and make the million and let me do what I get paid to do. That's why I chose to manufacture and not to sell retail- you all can have that side of the game.
If you chose to copyright that's fine, just be aware, the police is not going to confiscate bootlegged shirts for you- you're too small, and you're not paying them to do so. If the Chineese can bootleg Nike, how do you intend to stop someone from stealing your artwork? It costs money and time to sue, neither of which a small artist has. Just focus on getting your stuff out there and making some sales, then worry about someone stealing it.
ScreenPrint Industry Standards / Procedures 
