AboutBrad J. Guigar Expertise I can answer questions about developing a comic strip -- and self-publishing it both on the Web and tthrough print outlets. I can also offer advice on humor writing and cartoon illustration.
Experience I wrote "The Everything Cartooning Book" and co-wrote "How To Make Webcomics." I have been producing a daily comic strip, Evil Inc, since Feb. 2000. In 2007, I was nominated for an Eisner Award for my weekly comic, Phables. Both comics update regularly on their Web sites and appear in the Philadelphia Daily News and other newspapers. You can hear me discuss webcomics in my weekly podcast, Webcomics Weekly, along with my co-hosts Dave Kellett, Kris Straub and Scott Kurtz.
Organizations Halfpixel.com
Publications Philadelphia Daily News
Stanford Daily
Maine Campus
Expert: Brad J. Guigar Date: 7/15/2008 Subject: Cartooning
Question Hi Brad,
I read some of your answers to other aspiring cartoonists and see that you recommend self-publishing on the web.
Wouldn't there be a concern that ideas can be stolen by going that route?
Thanks for your help.
John
Answer Hi John,
Copyright theft is a serious concern to cartoonists. Unfortunately, your ideas are just as easily stolen in print as they are on the Web.
In both cases, the exact same copyright law exists. So, the good news is you have equal protection from copyright infringement on the Web as you do in print.
Here's my basic copyright primer. Keep in mine, I'm a cartoonist... not a lawyer... and this should not be mistaken for legal advice. :)
Unless you've signed a contract that states to the contrary, you own the copyright to your work as soon as it's completed.
Filing the proper forms with the U.S. Copyright Office, of course, is your best defense against copyright infringement. You can find tons of information on that process here: http://www.copyright.gov/
In general, you're going to want to correctly complete and file a Form 44, which can be found here: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/
I actually establish copyright to my work through several means. Once as a notation under the comic, again on each Web page original work appears on, again when they are printed in newspapers, and again when they are collected into book form. Each one of those notations strengthens my argument if and when I'm forced to defend my ownership of a given work.
And while we're on the topic of copyright law...
I'll call your attention to the "Orphaned Works Bill" that is currently working its way through Congress. This is a remarkably hot-button issue, so to avoid being incendiary, I'll simply remark that -- whether you're for it or against it -- it could radically change copyright law as we know it in the United States. As such, if you're interested in copyright protection of your work, it would behoove you as a cartoonist to find some reliable sources on the topic and learn as much as you can. If you feel strongly, you may even contact your congressperson and tell them you want them to vote on it -- for or against -- given your interpretation of what you've read.
