Intellectual Property Rights
by Patricia Cannata

When you work in someone's home or business, the work you perform becomes your businesses'  "intellectual property", which is basically a copyright for your work. 

Copyright laws provide legal protection for unlawful use and/or retribution for work that belongs to you that was used without authorization. 

Taking pictures of the job site (and the work itself) is an important tool for portfolio presentation and future marketing. These pictures belong to YOUR business, even if the work was done by individuals you employ or other subcontractors you hire to do the work. 

To prevent image theft by those individuals (to advance their own portfolios), make sure you have an employee handbook or policy/procedure manual in place that outlines rules for working on your projects. It should clearly state that no one is permitted to take photos of the work or post photos on social media unless authorized to do so.

As business owners, only YOU get to decide how you want your business represented in photos and on social media. To recognize others for their work, you can tag them on social media when posting photos of the project from your business page. 

Remember to protect the privacy of your clients while photographing your work. Make sure you hide personal details such as client names, family photographs, address markers, etc., when photographing in a client's home or business.

You can choose to sell the exclusive rights to your design (allowing the individual to pay a lump sum to purchase the design and use however they see fit) or choose remuneration rights (for the purpose of reproducing the work - selling t-shirts, mugs, etc. with the image). 

You can set a specific number of items to be reproduced or you can request remuneration at each reproduction. Remuneration is typically established with a licensing agreement, which entails all rights allowed. Exclusive rights do not expire, but remuneration rights have an expiration date of your choosing. 

Lastly, if you expect others to respect your intellectual property rights, return the favor by refusing to copy other's original works. Ask for permission for use or attribute the work with the name of the original artist, depending on the circumstance.

Patricia Cannata 

Decorative Artist and owner of Stein Design, a decorative painting company since 2000, located in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL.  Stein Design services residential and commercial clientele. Patricia holds a B.S. in Business Management from Columbia College. She worked in Corporate Management for several years prior to starting her business. She does business consulting for start ups and also teaches business classes upon request in addition to running her business.  

Sponsor Spotlight:
Diamond Coat

As a company, Diamond Coat is always striving to address problems by providing solutions. We don't just develop and offer products that will meet our customers' needs; we're interested in addressing the needs of our customers' customers! Diamond Coat offers a wide variety of products to address a vast array of projects and applications.

Our most popular product is our Diamond Epoxy. Primarily used in making countertops, this epoxy resin is formulated to self-level at 1/8" and can be used in conjunction with our Base Colors and Metallic Mica Powders to create absolutely stunning countertop surfaces! Diamond Epoxy is our classic model, beloved the world over for its thickness, durability, and temperature resistance of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

For thicker applications, we've developed Diamond Deep Cast, a casting resin that can be poured up to 3" thick. From paperweights to river tables, this casting resin can handle projects both big and small.

For floors both indoor and out, Diamond Coat offers a variety of systems. Diamond Gloss is our easy to apply but hard to beat flooring system that creates stunningly beautiful yet durable floors. Diamond Floor Cast is our solution for customers wanting to pour a clear top coat to add durability, depth, and crystal clear visibility to a pre-existing surface. 

Topping off our terrific trio is Super Traxx, our textured application that can be applied anywhere you'd like extra slip resistance without compromising on having a stunning and professional look - from sidewalks to driveways to patios, Super Traxx can cover it all.

Of course, most of our epoxy is formulated for primarily horizontal applications. Most, but not all – with our wall epoxy, our installers can tackle vertical applications with ease, using our revolutionary wall product to create incredible displays.

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Regardless of what your needs may be, Diamond Coat has you covered, and we continue to develop new products for new applications every year. Visit our website at diamondcoatepoxy.com or give us a call at 970-628-1846 to see what Diamond Coat can do for you!

The Paint Hive
by Regina Garay

Hello! I'd like to introduce you to The Paint Hive, a unique online learning center, and tell you a bit of our story. My partners, Monique Rogers, Gina Vivona, and myself, have worked together for nearly a decade. We have built and marketed several lifestyle brands, including some in the decorative painting world. You could say decorative painting is in our blood, and it runs the full color palette.⁠

The three of us have been each other's soundboards, cheerleaders, teachers, and ultimately, best friends. We've asked each other, "What are you doing next?" and it became a way for us to help each other rise. We dreamed of finding a way to help others rise as well, and our thoughts turned to the field we love so much. 

Individually we have worked with many decorative painting masters, many of whom are segueing into new facets of their career, while becoming mentors to the next generations. We wanted to create a way for them to share their skills to those who wanted to explore a career in decorative painting, or upskill their current decorative painting techniques, share valuable business skills for creatives, and/or find ways to transition their current artistic careers. We also wanted to help spread the word on creative industries as well by shining a light on great organizations, wonderful resources, and incredible artists.⁠

With this in mind, we founded The Paint Hive. We have wonderful master Instructors sharing valuable online creative courses, both free and paid. The classes are developed to inspire and encourage creativity, start a new business, or expand skills. The courses vary, as some are a get-your-hands-in-the-paint experience while others are information-rich lectures. New classes will continually be added and we'll be sharing great tips and information as well. Join our newsletter where we'll share new classes, news, resources, and special gifts for our community. Take a look at our current classes, and if you are interested in becoming a teacher, we encourage you to drop us a line.

Regina Garay

Regina Garay has over 20 years in the lifestyle field, from running an award-winning decorative services studio to helping plan and execute marketing strategies for world-renowned companies. She has traveled to speak to audiences large and small at industry conferences and private brand events to share social media strategies, trends, and emerging technologies.