Code of Conduct for Illustrators Free

As a member of the AOI, you will conduct business competently, with integrity and honesty. All members will strive to work according to this code of conduct wherever possible.

1. Fair Payment.  Illustrators should always be fairly recompensed for their work.   They should not undertake speculative work without a fee except in the case of self-generated work.
2. Infringement.  Illustrators shall not set out to copy the work or imitate the style of another illustrator, and may not accept commissions to do so. Influence by another artist is permissible.
3. Contracts. Illustrators will ensure that all parties are aware of the extent of the rights they are purchasing, pro-actively if needed. If no contract has been supplied by the client, the illustrator should provide written confirmation of engagement which includes this information.
4. Deadlines. Illustrators should use their best endeavours to deliver work on time, and relevant parties should be speedily informed if there is a foreseen delay or absence.
5. Agreements. Illustrators must honour agreements with their agents and in particular any agreement about exclusivity of representation. If a potential client refuses to deal through an agent, illustrators should accept the commission only after obtaining the agreement of their agent.
6. Subcontracting. The illustrator shall not subcontract work without the agreement of the client except in areas of illustration where this is customary (e.g. storyboards).
7. Amends. A fee should be charged for significant alterations which were not in the original brief, however, the illustrator may not charge extra fees for alterations which are the fault of the artist, nor for trivial alterations.
8. Relicensing. The illustrator must not licence artwork to a third party during the currency of an existing licence unless agreed with the client. In addition (especially in advertising) illustration should not be re-licensed to a third party after the expiry of the licence if such action is likely to be detrimental to the client’s business. Illustrators working on advertising or promotional illustration should not knowingly work simultaneously for clients who are in direct competition with one another without the agreement of both. In the case of conflict, the illustrator should accept the commission of the first comer.
9. Reputation. Illustrators must at all times bear in mind the reputation of their agency, other artists and the relationship between an intermediary and its client and act accordingly.
10. Confidentiality. Illustrators shall treat all information relating to their client’s business as confidential. No NDA should include copyright assignments.

This code is a standard of ethics and professional conduct for its members.