To:  Visual Communication Design schools, governments and the public

Please visit the link below, sign the petition, and help us get the word out; STOP WORK-FOR-HIRE.

Over the past several years, there has been a disturbing increase in the number of companies and creative agencies mandating work-for-hire for all of their freelance and contract assignments.

We, the undersigned, are against work-for-hire and restrictive rights agreements for the following reasons:

Work-for-hire transfers ALL rights of copyright to the buyer, including all sketches, layer files, and prep materials.

Work-for-hire essentially makes the contractor a de facto employee without providing any of the benefits of employment to the freelancer.

Work-for-hire is used by companies and agencies to deny freelancers work.

Work-for-hire is used by companies and agencies to deny freelancers additional compensation for reuse of the work they produce.

The very nature of Work-for-hire virtually ensures the downward spiral of ethics in the creative profession.

In addition, work-for-hire devalues the communication design profession. It reduces the creative professional and the work he/she produces to a commodity, rather than a specialized service.

After you've signed the petition, visit www.stopworkforhire.com and professionalartistsleague.com for articles on work-for-hire, unethical business practices, and the creative community at-large. Download the STOP WORK-FOR-HIRE logo and join the crusade today!

http://www.petitiononline.com/swfhpo1/petition.html