Monday, March 15, 2010

Just a thank you


Here's a little ethical question for you. I would love to know what you think. I have been following a locally-drawn cartoon in the newspaper for months now - I love it. Before Christmas, I contacted the cartoonist with an idea of a cartoon. I heard nothing back. Fair enough, I thought, he's not interested. That's his perogative. He's the artist, afterall. It's his cartoon strip. But a couple of weeks ago, I saw the cartoon in the paper. He'd drawn it, using my text almost word for word. But still no emails from him. Just a 'thank you' would have sufficed. As my grandma would have said...courtesy costs nothing!

4 comments:

  1. Not only wold you deserve a "thank-you" but a share of the royalties if he gets them. When two parties work on a cartoon, a writer and an artist, both share the revenue.
    Not replying to you but just using your script is theft, nothing else.
    You should recontact him and make your position clear.

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  2. I think Diana is right. Tell him he surely wont become the Australian Helene Hegemann ;-)

    But I would do it in a funny way with a raised eyebrow ;-)

    Bodecea

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  3. Yes, I think I might contact him. And yes, keep it light-hearted but just say, "Um, excuse me, but..." It just seemed really kind of crappy and rude to me.

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