Cartoonists' Association Blasts 'Des Moines Register' For Withholding Fired Cartoonist's Work

By: Joe Strupp Word that the Des Moines Register is refusing to give former editorial cartoonist Brian Duffy his collection of past drawings has sparked a critical letter from the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

Ted Rall, AAEC president, sent the letter Thursday to Register Editor Carolyn Washburn. It says, in part, "While your newspaper may claim ownership of Brian's thousands of original cartoons he drew during 25 years as The Register's staff editorial cartoonist, there remain compelling questions of what is customary and what is right.

"Although it used to be common for newspapers to keep their cartoonists' original artwork, that practice changed decades ago, and almost universally cartoonists now leave their newspapers with their artwork. These original drawings represent an artist's life work, and while newspapers pay for the its production, they do so in order to publish the work on its editorial page?not to possess each piece as artwork."

Duffy, fired three months ago, revealed earlier this week to an Iowa television station that he was battling for his past artwork. Contacted then, Washburn told the station: "It's not about withholding things from Brian. The Des Moines Register paid him for his very excellent work, but we hold the copyright for the work our staff produces. We're trying to do the right thing and make sure these unique pieces of work are protected for Iowans and available to the public."

Washburn could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Rall's entire letter is below:

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Ms. Carolyn Washburn
Vice President and Editor
The Des Moines Register
P.O. Box 957
Des Moines IA 50306-0957

Dear Ms. Washburn:

As President of The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC), I am writing to express the collective dismay of our membership at reports that you plan to dispose of Brian Duffy's original political cartoons without his consent.

While your newspaper may claim ownership of Brian's thousands of original cartoons he drew during 25 years as The Register's staff editorial cartoonist, there remain compelling questions of what is customary and what is right.

Although it used to be common for newspapers to keep their cartoonists' original artwork, that practice changed decades ago, and almost universally cartoonists now leave their newspapers with their artwork. These original drawings represent an artist's life work, and while newspapers pay for the its production, they do so in order to publish the work on its editorial page?not to possess each piece as artwork.

Mr. Duffy is understandably attached to his quarter-century's worth of drawings, and may wish to archive some of them for his children. Others he may want to donate to charities or sell at galleries. Regardless, they offer him a potential source of revenue after retirement, and reasonable people would assume that he should have them.

Although your reported plan to donate Brian's cartoons to the University of Iowa is commendable, cynics may charge that your purpose is to cash in on Brian's firing by taking a tax write-off for a sizable donation.

By your own admission, Brian produced "very excellent work" for your organization. On behalf of his professional organization, I encourage you to reconsider your plans and return his artwork to him.

Very truly yours,
Ted Rall
President
Association of American Editorial Cartoonists