I've been contacted by somebody from Megascreensavers.com, asking if they can use some of my pics for wallpaper etc, with a promise of shares of any profits made. I was wondering if anybody else had done the same and whether it was worthwhile?

Unless you sign a contract, I'd say 'no'....I did hear on another forum of someone who did this and they were promised the same(I don't remember if this was the site or not), only to find out the screensaver was selling well and they weren't getting squat as far as monetary recompense, their e-mails went unanswered and gennerally they were ignored, even though their work was in the screensaver. However, these guys may be legit, but before you give them anything you want 'in writting' what your percentage is, how the ss will be distributed(cd or dl), for how much, and how they plan to pay you...a contract. You also want a copy of the screensaver 'before' it's released to make sure your copyright is intact....If they balk at this then probably they don't plan to give you anything for your work. I would suggest making your own screensaver, and marketing it to them, or other sites, for a percentage... Just me but that's what I'd do...:)

Congrats. I hope they are not rip offs and it proves to be financially lucrative for you.

Never done before, first of all congrats, but I think wallpaper should be free for human being.... ( not for aliens?) cheers

I agree with Zhann on having a contract written up, you don't want to get screwed, you've undoubtedly spent a lot of time on your work! It could definitely be a good thing for you if you plan it right!

at least they ask..I found this site as a result of a wallpaper site (among other places..;) that had a lot of stuff I later recgonized from Hraszti, Kevin Kappis, and others, called 'Witt's End'..trust, but verify..

Thanks everyone! I'll keep what you said in mind Zhann. Vasquez, I agree wallpaper should be free, but a few 's wouldn't go amiss either. Funny thing is I can't understand why anyone would want to shell out for a wallpaper in the first place!

I think if they were pulling a fast one, why ask you? WHy not just pinch the picture anyway? Contracts are good. Depends how much money. I'd be happy just to get a link from the screensaver to my website or something. WHo knows what that could lead to? On a similar vein, I had an email from Alexander Hoschkara, who wants to use a few of my pictures on game cards. he said he'd contacted a few R'osity artists and since Brycers are the best, I wondered if any of you had been contacted.

They ask, so that you give the artwork -willingly-, and it's a -no copyright theft- idea, and a good defense, your word against theirs. Isn't it for a screensaver? I'm sorry if I sounded kinda harsh, but I do graphics and artworks on commission, and nothing gets done without a contract. Early on I learned the hard way, by doing a commission work, making changes to the original by request not once but 4 times, having the client accept it, and not getting paid. I also did several preliminary sketches, of which only one was accepted by the client, but they retained the others and used them also. Could be because I'm female, hate to say it, but there are still those who value a woman's work less than a man's....don't get started on that Now everything is by contract only. If they have a problem with that, I figure they are looking for something for nothing. It's a 'burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me.

Man... like Zhann said..... theft by deception. Be careful man. I would have to agree with the contract idea Zhann mentioned. Leave no stone unturned. Don't give them a way to shaft ya. Contractual paperwork on a professional level is the first step giving you the option of accepting or declining.

Ok I sent them an e-mail requesting info on contracts copyright etc, this is their reply:- "We have been in the screensaver business for a few years and one of the things we have learned is that people respond to high quality and unique looks. What we are trying to do is find an artist or two that is willing to let us use their artwork as backdrops for animated screensavers. We would create the animation and market the screensaver under our name. If someone should inquire as to the artist to that particular screensaver we would certainly give them your name. We are a small company and can't promise a lot of money. Only, that we will make an attempt to market the screensaver with your image and share the profits for any we sell based upon an pre-agreed formula. We may sell 0 we may sell 10,000. We typically sell our screensavers at a low cost $3. However, with your art work, we would raise the price a little 5 - 8 $. Our biggest selling screensaver has made over $2,000 in one month - so you never know. We're just small shop not trying rip anyone off. If we win - you win... In addition, we are part of a large affiliate network. However, we would like to sell our combined work exclusivly for a few months and then maybe move it to the affiliate network if you agree (IE: lot's more people trying to sell the screensaver we create). Let us know what you think." To me it sounds a bit dubious, the e-mail is friendly enough but still no mention directly of percentages or contracts. I'll think this through carefully, what do you guys think? Cheers Joe

I think you might ask them for the names of the artists they have used on previous screen savers (like the $2,000 in a month one). And contact a few of these artists for first hand accounts about there dealings with the company. They should be able to tell you what you want to know regarding the "mystery formula". And they did actualy mention that they would be happy to direct anybody inquiring about the art in the screen saver to the respective artist so if they don't that would tell you right quick to back away. Hope you get some answers, and some moola! ?:>)

Gee, let me see, they want your artwork '...we are trying to do is find an artist or two that is willing to let us use their artwork as backdrops...', so they can redo it as an animation, and then they are going to '...create the animation and market the screensaver under our name', sell it as theirs.

Basically after reading this, they want you to 'willingly' give them your artwork as a background so that they can redo it, and they are going to sell it under their name. The e-mail says it all. They are NOT giving you any type of credit, NOT giving you any specifics on how much your percentage of each screensaver sold is, so you could net as little as 1 cent, per sold screensaver. By allowing them to 'do over your art' you are allowing them to steal it and market it, I can't believe they would actually tell you that. Would you as a customer question who did the artwork, they're selling under their name, you would assume it's theirs.....

To me this is soooooooo bogus, it's laughable. My advice is to turn this down flat... do not send them anything. You have no guarrantee of 'anything', zip, zilch, nada, the big 0, zero...to go into a deal like this is to cut your nose off despite face.

That is my professional opinion as an artist....:)

Thanks Zhann, I'll follow your advice. Unless they come up with a rock solid contract with a decent percentage, they can forget it!

I read it twice, I didn't see anything about a contract..things that make ya go 'hmmm'..