Growing Up Creative: 3

3. Know Your (Copy)Rights.

Did you know that when you draw something, as soon as it is on the paper, it is protected by copyright laws? That means that you, as the person who made it, own the right to it. You are the person who says whether it can be copied, used in a magazine, printed up on a poster, put on a website, or whatever else. It is yours.

This means that you have to tell someone it's okay to use your artwork before they can use it. And when this happens, you can charge money. This is how may artists make a living.

You grant rights to someone, say, to use your art in a magazine or website. There are fees that you can charge for this.

Of course, you can always grant rights for free, so that you get some exposure. Or you can donate your artwork to a worthy cause. I have cartoons get copied from time to time and I let it happen because more people are going to see my work. But if someone is going to make money off your art, say by selling a book with your art in it, they need to pay you.

So never let anyone take your stuff without your permission! You created it, you deserve to make a living from it. Enough said.