In my decades in the biz, I never give clients my originals. I developed a “boilerplate” set of policies called “How I Work” that are printed in small gray type on the back of a purchase order; and every job gets a purchase order and/or a change order if requirements change in midstream. They are very helpful whenever an issue comes up.
I agree with the others who say it’s a “work for hire.” Give him the source file. If you’re just starting out, having a mad client is not good. The only way to build a business is on word of mouth and good references. He’ll find out that you’re the best person to be using that file anyway, and will come back seeking your services.
He’s a politician, so it’s part of his nature to put you in this awkward position. Just happily give it to him and chalk it up to a learning experience. Perhaps you’ll receive more business because of it. Just definitely don’t add any malware to the file.
I do manufacturing and engineering. Unless specifically agreed to I don’t give original 3D information to clients. I’ve been ripped off too many times. They will get what we call a “DUMB solid” which is like a PDF of JPEG. And I rarely do work for “friends.” It always leads to trouble unless you know absolutely you’re going to be paid with cash.
I would venture a guess that this person grumbled on the price away from you because, after all, “It’s only a picture. How hard can it be” I have seen that when someone comes in to my shop and says “Why did that cost so much, it’s just a piece of metal with some holes in it (that only needs to be held to 5 decimal point precision at 68f degrees).
With the friend wanting the original file it sounds like he /she already bought the software and will do everything on his own in the future. I don’t know the person but chances are you won’t get any more work anyway so you may as well give him / her the original file and leave on a good note. I have had clients who thought they would do what I do and come back because they can’t do what I make look easy.
Good luck. You can’t beat self employment.
IMHO:
>>>>” I do not feel like having my work, which was a product of my training and in which I take pride, changed from what would be considered good graphic design by my instructors to a nonprofessional mess by these people.”
Wrong attitude for a professional. It’s not a work of art with your name on it. It’s not a copyrighted piece that you own the rights to. They bought it, they can do what they want with it.
As for giving them the file:
You’ve already delivered what you were paid for.
Something more delivered would cost additional. What he’s looking for is to save money having someone else re-doing it or making changes.
Put a price on the file equal to what you would happy to sell it for and let the client decide if it’s worth it to buy the file or hire someone else to reproduce it.
I’ve been in the graphics field for over 25 years, and will say that you’re going to generate some ill will with your first professional reference if you don’t provide him with the InDesign file. You don’t owe him your working files unless specified in the quote, but he feels he paid you to produce it and that it’s his for the asking. Give it to him, I strongly suggest. If they make a mess of it, somebody will point that out and you will look all the better at some point down the road.
Copyright law says you own it. Payment is not the basis of ownership. Read the copyright law. It is written in plain English.