1972 replies to this topic

[ironmask]

I was under the impression that AP figs were the artists "pay" for their work.
But if Ironmask says they have to pay for them, I'll go along with that.
I don't want to end up on his hate list like EricNilla.

It was explained to me, that "Payment" was "Having a figure get made".

Feh.
And Pimpin', you're just on my 'strongly dislike' list, haha

[PimpNugget]

It was explained to me, that "Payment" was "Having a figure get made".

Feh.
And Pimpin', you're just on my 'strongly dislike' list, haha

Well that doesn't sound like any sort of "payment" to me.

Are George and Ayleen making any money on the line?
I'd have to bet if they aren't making money on it yet, they soon will.

Do they own the rights to the figure or do the artists retain the rights to them?

[jkaris]

I am pretty sure that the artists retain all rights to their characters.

Considering what the AP figures sold for, and guessing the cost to the artist was the same per figure as to the $1000 backers (if not cheaper) I would guess each artist cleared about $300 - $700 each.

[ironmask]

I am pretty sure that the artists retain all rights to their characters.

Considering what the AP figures sold for, and guessing the cost to the artist was the same per figure as to the $1000 backers (if not cheaper) I would guess each artist cleared about $300 - $700 each.

They'd have a hard time retaining the rights, as there are no contracts, that I am aware of.

And not to belabor a point, but "Just having a toy made" seems pretty bush-league to offer, when it's basically the whole appeal and foundation to the line.
I mean, throwing the winners a bone for DESIGNING AND SCULPTING your effing toyline, that you're profiting from, doesn't seem like a whole lot to ask.
The only benefit the winners get, is from the limited buying power that George has for doing all of the figures at the factory... And it making it cheaper for them to buy their own sculpt's figures... While OT profits from their work.

I think that is pretty jive.

[iwao]

I'm not an artist, but I would think the exposure of getting a figure made is worth something. I would guess whatever part of Earwig's 20 customs at $25 each was profit more than covered his cost for the 200 figures. I doubt he was able to charge that for a custom painted mini-figure before OMFG.

I wouldn't expect OT to eat around $1,000 on getting the artist proofs made just so the artists can sell them for pure profit.

I don't know anything about the rights, but I doubt Thye had to ask permission to get his Shithouse t-shirts made. I could be wrong.

George sculpted Stroll and didn't keep half the proofs. Sounds like he does clean up work on the other figures too. He sculpted Shirtle this round and those proofs will probably all go to the artist if he wants them all. You can get the blister carded flesh set from OT for $13 shipped. Doesn't seem like much profit there compared to what other sets sold for.

[jkaris]

They'd have a hard time retaining the rights, as there are no contracts that I am aware of.

In looking again at an email convo I had with George and the artists in regards to being able to sell the MOTU color version poster, George made it clear that the artists retained all rights.

To quote:
"each of the characters designers who owns the characters you were going to be using"

So, the designers do retain all rights to their characters, they just allowed OT to include them as part of the OMFG line and got a chance to get 200 made on the cheap to sell themselves.
At the $1000 level, the figures cost $1 per. Granted there were some added costs to it, but if the artists sold them for $3 each, after paypal fees, they would have made $1.50 or more net per. For the ones who sold them for $5 or $6 each, they made a lot more. That's assuming they didn't get them for less than $1 each.

[ironmask]

There's nothing to indicate that George would get the rights... no disclaimer, no contracts that I am aware of...

But hey, if you guys want to design a toyline for me, I'll see what I can do about paying you with some exposure.

It's pretty pompous to say "Having your design included in my toyline should be payment enough", and if you don't think so, then that is certainly your prerogative.
I fully support Redjarojam, as I felt that his design was hands down the best, and he seems like a real legit dude. I'll make an effort to get his AP figure, to help support him.
I'm not trying to imply that George should cast the winner 4,000 figures for free... But hell, any profit he makes off of those (meager or excessive) is do largely to work that came from the backs of others, and OT seems to feel entitled to it.


I don't hug nuts.

[Ericnilla]

...I don't hug nuts.

Except mine

[NamaNiku]

#nuthuggers

I am going to do a nuthugger design for wave 3...

[PimpNugget]

I'm not an artist, but I would think the exposure of getting a figure made is worth something.

Who got the better end of the exposure deal?
October Toys/Toy Break or the artist?

I would have to think OT would flip a tit if Monsterforge decided he was gonna have a bunch of multiskulls made up and sell them on his own.

[ironmask]

Who got the better end of the exposure deal?
October Toys/Toy Break or the artist?

I would have to think OT would flip a tit if Monsterforge decided he was gonna have a bunch of multiskulls made up and sell them on his own.

It seems a little exploitative.


Hold on, I'll be right back... Gotta go kick that dead horse over there...

[PlasticSoul]

Obviously for many artists the exposure alone is worth it.




That sure as hell doesn't make it fair or right or ethical though.

[jkaris]

Who got the better end of the exposure deal?
October Toys/Toy Break or the artist?

I would have to think OT would flip a tit if Monsterforge decided he was gonna have a bunch of multiskulls made up and sell them on his own.

Based on everything I have read over there, I doubt that OT/George would have any issues with the designers using their own designs to make other stuff. And since the original sculpts also belong to the designers, I doubt there would be any problem with them reproducing them and selling them. However, that doesn't make any financial sense, as they can buy the figures from the factory for less than $1 each, hence negating any need for a silicone/rubber repro.
But if they were to do t-shirts, posters, comic books, new sculpts of the character, etc., I honestly don't see George having any issue with it as he has already stated that OT does not own the character designs.

I'm not hugging any  squirrel_nuts_1.jpg   16.24K   2 downloads

but I am a huge fan of the whole OMFG idea. Their group got together and designed a kick ass group of figures for Series 1 and were able to, because of Matt's contact with his Glyos factory, get the opportunity to have them mass produced for a very decent price. The did the fund-raising, offered independent dealers (such as myself, U of M, Rotofugi, etc.) an opportunity to buy in early, and gave the designers the ability to pick up some exclusive colored stock (cheap) for resale, too.
Funding transpired, and the line is a success.
OT owns OMFG, the artists own their characters.

OT wins because they have another successful line (like they do with Gwins and Zombies).

The artists win because they have their character (which they still retain all rights to) as part of a larger, successful line. They can now market the hell out of their character and even use that as a stepping stone to launch other characters that they have, as their audience/exposure is now exponentially bigger. I am going to take a guess and say that they can also order other colors of their figures in low runs, now, too. We also do not know if the artists get a small residual from the OT sales of OMFG. They might.

The OT community wins because they get to lay claim to having a hand in launching an incredible new line AND the figures are very fairly priced at $10 for a regular version and up to $15 for variant colors. Had they not been able to go PVC from Matt's factory, each figure would be $10-$20 a pop, instead of $2-$3 per.

In my opinion, that is a huge win all the way around.

To give it a different perspective, imagine if this were an entirely LRG created project. Imagine the same facts, different names.

[walker13.1]

I received a message that King Castor was shipped.

[McCTXToys]

Me too! I wonder if I will get both of my orders...

[jkaris]

Ditto, last night.

[PlasticSoul]

Got my 3 in the mail this morning.

The figure looks great in this color but the header card is not very cool at all.

[PimpNugget]

Someone at OT has 4 stroll ap for trade!

[PlasticSoul]

I have one for trade if anyone missed out.

[redjarojam]

I will be doing the art for the back of the package this go round. Hoping I can pull it off and do all the characters justice.

[McCTXToys]

Plastic - what all do you have for trade?

[SaltLakeToyJunkee]

Is it weird I have not received mine by now? I can see several others have got theirs Anyone else not received theirs?

[McCTXToys]

Got mine in!

[redjarojam]

Neither are done but just felt like sharing.

This is the image for the back of the package. I am drawing each character individually. Ralph will be doing them up in old school trading card style like he did for Crawdad Kid and Phantom Shithouse. The different artist can use them with their AP releases if they want.



This will be the poster. Will also see if George wants to offer the original as part of a Kickstarer pledge perk.

[iwao]

Great work on both. They look like they should be battling GWAR. Thank you for stepping up and offering your skills. It would've been weird to have a series with no art, especially on the back of the package.