McGraw Hill Publisher charging illustrators a fee to get paid
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@LauraA I knew you weren't arguing in favor. And I could see how a comparison to what is currently "normal" could be made to this new McGH policy/fee.
Your post simply encouraged me clarify my own thoughts as to why this both "feels" and is fundamentally different.
I apologize if it seemed I was making you advocate for a position you don't hold.
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@davidhohn said in McGraw Hill Publisher charging illustrators a fee to get paid:
It's a little passive aggressive
Oh, it's COMPLETELY passive aggressive
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@davidhohn No problem! I was doing the same.
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Here's a lawsuit against them from 2012, Another class action lawsuit was filed in January 2021 by authors over unpaid royalties after MGH re-defined electronic books.
https://www.courthousenews.com/author-says-mcgraw-hill-cheats-on-royalties/
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@Lee-White posted this to FB today. I'll be signing this petition. Hope others will join.
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@davidhohn Oh I'm so in. I don't have a big following but I can reach out to some kidlit peeps on Twitter too.
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@BradAYoo Every person you discuss this with makes a difference!
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Add an admin charge to your invoice - 20% processing fee to deal with their crap. Ridiculous.
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@davidhohn Thank you so much for sharing! I just signed and will share this petition on my socials!
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Has anyone here worked for this publisher? If so, will you refuse work in the future because of it? The owners of this site are quite successful, where is their opinion and thoughts on this?
It seems like it is easy for unpublished or small publisher artists to get workedup over something like this- what are the experienced artists thoughts who have worked with this publisher or large publishers thoughts?
(edited to change my wording)
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@jimsz as an illustrator who works for small independent artists, I donât know how I feel about the implication that unless you have worked with these large publishers youâre not a ârealâ pro. I produce professional work, and get paid for my services. In my book that qualifies me, and other illustrators like me, as pros. Do we have as much experience as Jake or Lee or Will? No, but we are still professionals
Itâs an unfair practice regardless. As a community, there really is no downside to banding together on this and demanding fair pay for services offered
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Poor choice of words by me, I was thinking experienced with large publishers.
Large companies make their own rules because they can and those rules benefit them.
There is little difference with this and Adobe going to a rental model for their software (which costs more artists more I would think).
As I asked, how many would refuse to work for this publisher if they came knocking? it may stink to have to pay the extra fee but many, if not most would swallow it as the cost of doing business.
It costs nothing to complain and start petitions when you are outside looking in (as I am!) but once you're in it will come at a cost.
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Thoughts on this issue from an Intellectual Property Attorney:
TLDR:
"PG [Passive Guy, the attorney who writes this blog] suggests freelancers get together and suggest to one another to increase their fees to McGraw-Hill by 5%, with a little less than half to cover McGraw-Hillâs new fee and a new 2.8% McGraw-Hill invoice preparation and compliance fee."
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@davidhohn I guess the problem is getting together - we don't all know each other haha... Though by passing the word around as much as possible, maybe enough people will hear about it. On that topic, the petition has reached the goal of 1600 signature and is now extended for a stretch goal of 3200!
vanessastoilova.com
instagram.com/vanessa.stoilova/Check out my Youtube channel for tips on how to start your career in illustration! www.youtube.com/c/ArtBusinesswithNess
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@NessIllustration Each illustrator advocating and sharing among their peer group will have a significant effect. And I've found that the illustration community is smaller than you might think!
Individual illustrators have gotten together in the past with efforts to combat Orphan Works bills and stock illustration.
I'm pleased to see the Authors Guild going for more signatures! Keep talking and sharing!
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@davidhohn
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@chinachin Sorry what?
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@chinachin Iâm confused, are you saying that because the fee isnât high itâs something that shouldnât be considered unfair or exploitative? For me, and this is from someone who is a new professional so my experience at this point is also based on my instincts about this...it doesnât matter how expensive the fee is. They pay for illustrator services, and yet they take a fee out because their clients are forced to use their payment service? Thatâs a publishing company on a power trip, thatâs what I see. That tells me that they donât think illustrators should be getting the money they deserve and is in some ways punishing artists for using a service they have to use. Itâs more about the thought behind it, perhaps others can weigh in, but the price of the fee is more inconsequential.
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@davidhohn Is that actually legal? So, you're being penalised for being paid your fee. I can't see how that could stand up in court.
