Spec, or no spec. Best practices for contractors

Continued from over here -

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=1073721#post1073721

since it is drifting far off topic.

An interesting discusson about the merits of spec work in the field of creatives, which began with a logo design contest. Several references have been made to no-spec,com

I wanted to respond to hand's statement:

Actually, the fees paid by the client were more than reasonable given the quality of work and the purpose of the finished product. A good trademark attorney does not come cheap!

The mark in question is a certification mark, analogous to the Woolmark - certainly worth the expense of a first rate attorney and a quality graphic designer that is willing to see the project through to the end.

The willingness of this client to retain competent people, regardless of cost, speaks to their desire to see the project to a successful conclusion. The work that they are doing now will pay itself off many times over the course of the next few decades. (Yes, this is a project with a long term vision.)

Spec work is based on a short term vision. There are many good reasons to doubt the spec work model is of long term benefit to either party.

 

I guess if you need an attorney to do a trademark it may be expensive. I do it all myself seeing that it is only an issue if you are trademarking or doing a certification mark that may have an issue with someone else's.

My work is competent and I utilize all assets available i.e. forum people that have talent that may otherwise not get the work. If they want to do the work then more power to them. Are they competent of course, do they see a project to conclusion of course.