Matty,
First of all, good on you for taking the high road. You didn't short change eric, and you didnt bash him. You were very well spoken. Very respectful. very professional. I'm honestly taken aback a bit. Some people don't know you and I have had a history (it was more to do with Eric) and man you just earned so much respect in my eyes not because of what you said, but how diplomatically you said it.
As to what you said, I long since suspected the work was yours. The quality just changed so drastically. It must be very hard for you to see your creations out there- especially the spiderwick tail. It clearly meant so much to you.
I'm aghast at what you were paid. 10$ an hour is below minimum wage where I live. I pay my mermaids 60$-100$ an hour depending on the gig and the rates I'm able to negotiate from clients. (Anything lower than that is usually charity and something we all agree on first. )
You clearly understand the law (I researched the exact same facts you presented. the very rules you outlined are actually how Eric gets away with stealing designs from others!) and you understand the balance between designer and creator. The one thing I would say to your ex friend who mentioned steve jobs is that comparing mermaid tails and iphones is like apples and dishwashers. It's not the same thing. Think instead of the existing special effects field. In a movie pretty much everyone is credited for their hand in the special effects. Just as much credit goes to designers as it does to those who put the project together. Just like writers, producers, directors. You can't say a writer's job is above a director etc.
Anyway, good on you man. colour me impressed. You should join mernetwork, I think people understand now you aren't Eric.
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