Cover Art Similarities

The New York Times has an interesting article on what happens when two book covers have similar, or even identical, photographs. This article also explains a little about the behind-the-scenes activities that go into designing a book cover. “Most book designers turn to stock-photography agencies. Top agencies charge $1,200 to $1,500 a photograph, and twice that for exclusive rights, a premium publishers are loath to pay. That’s where the trouble starts,” the article states.

The article points out that publishers and authors have no recourse when image duplication appears, unless someone paid for exclusivity. However, “It’s in all our best interests to make sure that image isn’t already being used in the same medium,” Jean Morley, Wiley’s vice president of creative services, said in an e-mail to the newspaper.

Check out the article here.