JAE COMMITS TO THE BIT

A Limited or Full Exclusivity license prevents the artist from relicensing the work elsewhere, BUT they retain the rights and can use it in their portfolio, for self-promo, and can (depending on your agreement) sell their own prints if they wish.

The reason why FCTs are expensive is because the client can, via merch/prints/future uses, continue to make money off the art with the artist not seeing a cent of that profit. The client can edit it, and the artist can’t do anything, even though their name is still attached.

This is my PSA hoping that the TTRPG space (and beyond; although I only have experience/knowledge about copyright as it pertains to my career in TTRPGs) absorbs it like a sponge.

FCTs are expensive and (usually) not needed for the average project. What you are probably seeking is an [limited] exclusivity commercial license.

for example, if hiring ME (bc i don't speak for all artists), here are some of the options I offer for commercial licenses:

Basic Commercial License: grants permission to use art in print/pdf and in social media promos for the project w credit

Limited Exclusivity: the above + I can't relicense until X amt of time has passed

Full Exclusivity: the above except I can't relicense it at all, but I do retain full rights to the image

Full Copyright Transfer: You own the art and can do whatever you want w/out getting permission from me, even 10 yrs from now. You don't even HAVE to credit me (but you should...for obvious reasons)

I negotiate licenses to make print/merch separately and on top of one of the above licenses, and that is either an upfront/flat fee, upfront fee + royalties, or just royalties.

Also, I do art consultations!! If you are looking to hire artists and don't know what you're doing, you can hire me and I'll go over your project needs and help give you an idea of what your art is going to cost you depending on your needs!