Comments on: In Defense of Platinum Studios http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/ We are your overlords. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:35:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Adam Black http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53362 Adam Black Thu, 17 May 2007 06:35:14 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53362 I must not have made myself clear. Work For Hire Contract = more pay, while No Work For Hire Contract = less pay, but you keep your copyrights. I've been doing comics and illustration for 15-odd years at this point, and I've only had a handful of WFH contracts. None of these contracts made me feel terrible afterwards. Then again, I've never worked for Marvel, either. I must not have made myself clear.

Work For Hire Contract = more pay, while

No Work For Hire Contract = less pay, but you keep your copyrights.

I’ve been doing comics and illustration for 15-odd years at this point, and I’ve only had a handful of WFH contracts. None of these contracts made me feel terrible afterwards.

Then again, I’ve never worked for Marvel, either.

]]> By: DJ http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53338 DJ Thu, 17 May 2007 05:20:06 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53338 Well, not all WFH deals are bad when it comes to creating original content, in fact Platinum's is quite good. Perhaps it's on a case by case basis-- but I know with Hero By Night, I have two contracts with that, one is WFH, and one is a royalty and rights sort of deal, attaching me to just about anything under the sun that they'd do with it. So, in come cases it can be a big win win for creators. I guess it all depends on your idea or individual project. It really rubbed me the wrong way to have WFH compared to sharing needles with AIDS patients, that seemed highly inflammatory to me, if not a little bit insulting. Well, not all WFH deals are bad when it comes to creating original content, in fact Platinum’s is quite good. Perhaps it’s on a case by case basis– but I know with Hero By Night, I have two contracts with that, one is WFH, and one is a royalty and rights sort of deal, attaching me to just about anything under the sun that they’d do with it. So, in come cases it can be a big win win for creators. I guess it all depends on your idea or individual project.

It really rubbed me the wrong way to have WFH compared to sharing needles with AIDS patients, that seemed highly inflammatory to me, if not a little bit insulting.

]]> By: Heidi M. http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53329 Heidi M. Thu, 17 May 2007 05:07:08 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53329 writing KISS is definitely WFH. You didn't invent KISS! Of course, licensed work is normally WFH. Just remember, generally, WFH = MORE pay not less. writing KISS is definitely WFH. You didn’t invent KISS! Of course, licensed work is normally WFH. Just remember, generally, WFH = MORE pay not less.

]]> By: Adam Black http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53325 Adam Black Thu, 17 May 2007 04:35:51 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53325 WFH contracts...you gotta think about those things on a case-by-case basis, you know? I mean, I'm in a WFH situation with the KISS Webcomic, but c'mon...it's their stuff anyway. I really don't mind. There are some things of my own that I'd do in a WFH contract with no problem, because they're disposable to me. However, there are other projects I have on the back burner that I would never sign over copyrights to. No WFH almost always means less pay. Sometimes it isn't worth the pay cut; sometimes it is. *shrug* Simple as that. WFH contracts…you gotta think about those things on a case-by-case basis, you know?

I mean, I’m in a WFH situation with the KISS Webcomic, but c’mon…it’s their stuff anyway. I really don’t mind.

There are some things of my own that I’d do in a WFH contract with no problem, because they’re disposable to me. However, there are other projects I have on the back burner that I would never sign over copyrights to.

No WFH almost always means less pay. Sometimes it isn’t worth the pay cut; sometimes it is. *shrug* Simple as that.

]]> By: Heidi M. http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53244 Heidi M. Wed, 16 May 2007 23:36:41 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53244 I won't change my position on WFH for original creations. Don't get me wrong, I've done WFH, I've hired people for WFH, and I know the economics of it and why it is done, and who does it why and where. But anyone who sells their OWN creation these days...well maybe they deserve what they get I'm not saying Platinum was guilty of any skullduggery. Dave knew what he was getting into, and so did everyone I know who signed one of these contracts. I'm just saying I will never forget Jack Kirby. There has been a long hard battle in comics to get away from WFH, with many tragic stories along the way. I won’t change my position on WFH for original creations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done WFH, I’ve hired people for WFH, and I know the economics of it and why it is done, and who does it why and where. But anyone who sells their OWN creation these days…well maybe they deserve what they get

I’m not saying Platinum was guilty of any skullduggery. Dave knew what he was getting into, and so did everyone I know who signed one of these contracts. I’m just saying I will never forget Jack Kirby. There has been a long hard battle in comics to get away from WFH, with many tragic stories along the way.

]]> By: DJ http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53173 DJ Wed, 16 May 2007 20:34:22 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53173 Hah, I'd welcome it! Come to think of it, if i were an official Platinum employee I could probably have access to a good health insurance plan! Heh. They treat me right-- I just hate it when idiots drag them through the mud for something so tiny like this. That Heidi McDonald should rethink what she posted about WFH contracts and relating them to what she did... i think it was pretty inflammatory, not just to Platinum, but other big companies that use WFH like Marvel and DC, etc. Hah, I’d welcome it! Come to think of it, if i were an official Platinum employee I could probably have access to a good health insurance plan! Heh.

They treat me right– I just hate it when idiots drag them through the mud for something so tiny like this. That Heidi McDonald should rethink what she posted about WFH contracts and relating them to what she did… i think it was pretty inflammatory, not just to Platinum, but other big companies that use WFH like Marvel and DC, etc.

]]> By: madscott http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53166 madscott Wed, 16 May 2007 20:26:14 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53166 "Platinum should probably just put me on the payroll as an official cheerleader or unofficial corporate blogger for them" Your preaching to the choir man. I think anytime I see someone working this damn hard for a group they should get paid. “Platinum should probably just put me on the payroll as an official cheerleader or unofficial corporate blogger for them”

Your preaching to the choir man. I think anytime I see someone working this damn hard for a group they should get paid.

]]> By: Adam Black http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53123 Adam Black Wed, 16 May 2007 16:38:04 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53123 I really don't think Platinum is intentionally stiffing its creators. I do believe, however, that the Drunk Duck site is clunky as all hell and really needs an overhaul. Disclaimer: I work for Platinum, and publish a webcomic for them on DD. So I'm speaking from experience here. In closing, I'll simplify things: Platinum = cool place to work. Drunk Duck = backend still needs a shit-ton of work. I really don’t think Platinum is intentionally stiffing its creators. I do believe, however, that the Drunk Duck site is clunky as all hell and really needs an overhaul.

Disclaimer: I work for Platinum, and publish a webcomic for them on DD. So I’m speaking from experience here.

In closing, I’ll simplify things:

Platinum = cool place to work.
Drunk Duck = backend still needs a shit-ton of work.

]]> By: DJ http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53098 DJ Wed, 16 May 2007 15:50:07 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53098 Did you maybe try emailing Platinum about this? I mean, clearly if it were their intention to NOT credit Roman and Weber, if you followed your own links in your article, you'd end up at the Adventure of Tymm website where they are clearly credited-- that's my damn point. According to Roman, they changed the name again, looks like they need to re-do the cover that has the credits on it for web publishing with the new logo. But of course, anything for some drama and to claim foul of Platinum. Did you maybe try emailing Platinum about this? I mean, clearly if it were their intention to NOT credit Roman and Weber, if you followed your own links in your article, you’d end up at the Adventure of Tymm website where they are clearly credited– that’s my damn point. According to Roman, they changed the name again, looks like they need to re-do the cover that has the credits on it for web publishing with the new logo.

But of course, anything for some drama and to claim foul of Platinum.

]]> By: Heidi M. http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53097 Heidi M. Wed, 16 May 2007 15:37:36 +0000 http://yirmumah.net/in-defense-of-platinum-studios/#comment-53097 Platinum gives SOME creators credit. They should give ALL credit Period. Platinum gives SOME creators credit.

They should give ALL credit

Period.

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