Permission to use in portfolio.

"winners will have our permission to reference our site as part of their online portfolio."

That shit really gets to me. F their permissions. If i make a logo for a company and its good, i don't need anyone's permission to use it in my portfolio. And if i want to include a link to their website i don't need their permission either. As far as i am concerned there is no laws stating you need permission to post a link to any website. If i felt like it, i could put their link right between two racist sites, a porn site, and some gun shop. Permission. I dont know why, but that really raises my blood pressure. It gives me mental heart burn when a client thinks he can dictate what work i put in my portfolio. As long as i created it i can use it. Sure we transfer copyright to the client, but that doesn't mean that you loose any right to show your own work. If the day ever comes that the law states that once the rights are sold you loose even your right to claim you created it. That day i give up design, throw my computer out the window, move to the forest, and pick berry's for the rest of my life.


I know many people here are not from the states and laws are different everywhere you go. That is the beauty of the internet, there is no real central government here. Individual sites can state their policy's but you cant really really stop anyone from doing anything. Why wont these clients just say what is really on their minds; "i will grace you with MY divine permission to include your own work in your own portfolio so that you can get more work and not die or become a bum, (cuz i am a nice guy) now kiss my ring, polish my shoes, and wipe my ass for me as a thank you... peasant


Ok i think i feel better now. By the way this quote is not from any contests held here nor would i say things like this directly to the client. I just needed to vent.

Thanks for reading. good luck in your contests.

Well, I know it doesn't quite make sense, but agreements and contracts for design work may vary. And some of them can prohibit display of the work you have done in your portfolio. Then it is up to you whether to accept such a contract or not.

Well, I know it doesn't quite make sense, but agreements and contracts for design work may vary. And some of them can prohibit display of the work you have done in your portfolio. Then it is up to you whether to accept such a contract or not.

Isnt that evil? what gain can the company possible have by not giving artist credit? I vow right now to never willingly accept any such work. Unless it is a project that will make me enough money to retire.

Its almost like selling your soul. I mean really. Lets take fine art for example. When you paint something, and sell it. The owner can do what he pleases with it, even use shots of it in posters and such. In the end it is still the artist that painted it. I realize contracts can change the rules, but somethings should be sacred.. illegal to change.

Some people are just misinformed. There's no reason to judge them for it. I think that if you ever ran into a situation where the client genuinely needed those kinds of terms, you might change your outlook. For example, what if the company has a product or service that they do not wish the public to know about for a while. Or what if the company isn't even sure yet whether said product or service will ever be released. Say they got the website from one person, the product label from another, and a bunch of other designs from a bunch of other designers. It's not worth their time to keep track of this. So it's entirely reasonable for them to simply pay off the designers in return for non-disclosure. I would imagine that there are only a few other situations such as that, but that's why there are also very few requests to give up the portfolio rights.

Some people are just misinformed. There's no reason to judge them for it. I think that if you ever ran into a situation where the client genuinely needed those kinds of terms, you might change your outlook. For example, what if the company has a product or service that they do not wish the public to know about for a while. Or what if the company isn't even sure yet whether said product or service will ever be released. Say they got the website from one person, the product label from another, and a bunch of other designs from a bunch of other designers. It's not worth their time to keep track of this. So it's entirely reasonable for them to simply pay off the designers in return for non-disclosure. I would imagine that there are only a few other situations such as that, but that's why there are also very few requests to give up the portfolio rights.

Yea, i guess your right.

Redrum is right. I have a client I've been working with for over a year on the development of a new product identity which I do not have the right to display because trademark is still pending. He just doesn't want anyone to steal his idea. If your client asks you not to show it, they may have a reason. Openly displaying that you can use it in your portfolio is good gesture, although, I fully enjoyed reading your post.

Redrum is right. I have a client I've been working with for over a year on the development of a new product identity which I do not have the right to display because trademark is still pending. He just doesn't want anyone to steal his idea. If your client asks you not to show it, they may have a reason. Openly displaying that you can use it in your portfolio is good gesture, although, I fully enjoyed reading your post.

good point.

Hi....it is the norm, that work is allowed to be shown in portfolio, I have done many logos, through various sites, I'd say 5%(or less) ask for non disclosure, all rights released.(usually this is disclosed in brief, so you can decide to enter, or not.