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I'm interested in author feedback. I'm a professional graphic designer and design book covers. I use and manipulate stock art for a unique end product.
A few months ago I used a specific piece of stock art in a cover; in this case, two models in an embrace, the most significant and eye catching piece of art; the centerpiece of the cover. I now have a second author who is bent on using that same piece of stock art. I tried to interest her to another pose by the same models, but she does not like it as much. She wants THAT one. I don't blame her; she's found something she likes and wants to use it.
I feel I can't do it, that it would be too much like a copy of the first cover I did, even with a different background and different typography. It IS a commercial piece of art, so certainly the first author might expect to find it elsewhere, but I don't think **I** should use it again; that if I do so, I will be dishonoring my agreement with the first author.
I've offered to refund the second author's deposit. I feel bad about it, because this is the second in a series and I already designed the first book; but I just don't think it's ethically right. But I thought I would come here and ask what other authors felt. How would you feel if you had contracted with an author for a cover that while it used stock art, was to be unique to you, then saw the same models, in the same pose, on a second cover by that same artist?
A few months ago I used a specific piece of stock art in a cover; in this case, two models in an embrace, the most significant and eye catching piece of art; the centerpiece of the cover. I now have a second author who is bent on using that same piece of stock art. I tried to interest her to another pose by the same models, but she does not like it as much. She wants THAT one. I don't blame her; she's found something she likes and wants to use it.
I feel I can't do it, that it would be too much like a copy of the first cover I did, even with a different background and different typography. It IS a commercial piece of art, so certainly the first author might expect to find it elsewhere, but I don't think **I** should use it again; that if I do so, I will be dishonoring my agreement with the first author.
I've offered to refund the second author's deposit. I feel bad about it, because this is the second in a series and I already designed the first book; but I just don't think it's ethically right. But I thought I would come here and ask what other authors felt. How would you feel if you had contracted with an author for a cover that while it used stock art, was to be unique to you, then saw the same models, in the same pose, on a second cover by that same artist?