The subject of licensing and rights in digital art commissions is one that most self-taught artists navigate poorly at first, and I want to share what I've learned.

The baseline: unless explicitly agreed otherwise, you retain copyright of everything you create. A commission fee pays for a specific use, not for ownership of the copyright.

Common usage rights to negotiate: personal use only (lowest fee), commercial use (the client can use the image in their business), publication rights (the image can appear in published media), exclusive rights (only the client can use the image, not you).

Buy-out: a client who wants to own the copyright outright — with no ongoing royalties and the ability to modify or resell the work — should pay significantly more than a standard commission fee. Buy-out is a major rights transfer and should be priced accordingly.

In practice: most indie game developers, small businesses, and personal clients don't need or want exclusive rights. A clear usage clause in your contract prevents misunderstandings without requiring most clients to pay buy-out rates.