Copyright

The creator of an original work of authorship automatically gets copyright protection the moment that work becomes “fixed in any tangible medium of expression” according to the Copyright Act of 1976.  Ideas are not eligible for copyright, but as soon as that idea is expressed in print, a recording, on a canvas, as a photograph, on a website, blog post, or any other digital or tangible platform, the author owns the copyright.

The owner of a copyright has the exclusive right to publish, reproduce, distribute, perform, display or sell that original work. Registering the work with the US Copyright Office will provide legal protections for the author in the event someone else uses that material improperly.  However, even if the copyright is not registered with the Copyright Office, no one can copy, display, distribute, sell or license the work without the author’s permission.

 Works Made for Hire

The Copyright Act also provides for non-authors to own the original work if the parties agree that it will be considered a “work made for hire.”  So what does this mean?

For authors:
If you create an original work pursuant to a contract you have with a person or company, by default, you will own the copyright.  Or you can agree that it will be a “work made for hire” with ownership rights transferring to the person or entity that paid you to create it.  The buyer will then own the copyright and the legal protections to the work you created. If it’s important for you to be able to show the work you did as part of a portfolio, that clause can be included in the agreement with your buyer.

For employees:
If you create an original work as part of the scope of your employment, the work is considered a “work made for hire” and your employer owns the work and the copyright.  If you create something outside the scope of your employment – on your own time, using your own resources, for purposes other than what you are hired to do – you will own the work and copyright.

For companies:
As stated, the company owns the original works created by its employees, but NOT those created by other companies or by independent contractors that were engaged – AND PAID – to create the work.  It’s critical – if as a business owner you want to own the original work you pay others to produce – that you come to agreement with the author BEFORE anything is created or paid for.

An intellectual property agreement specifying the original works as “works made for hire” will assure your company the right to use, display, distribute, or sell the original works without reservation or future compensation to the author. A perfect example of this relates to websites and other content displayed online – don’t take the chance that your digital presence will disappear if you cut ties with your marketing partner (who will own the content on your site unless you’ve explicitly agreed otherwise.)

Federal copyright law is clear on these issues, so it’s risky to assume that all the parties agree on the final ownership of the work if you have not discussed in detail.  If you are an author or purchaser of original, copyrightable works, you will want to have a signed contract specifying the understanding.  Please give me a call so that we can ensure your rights are protected.

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE, NOR DOES IT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. EACH SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, REMEDIES, AND DUTIES.

By Wendy M. Anderson, Esq.
Law Office of Wendy Anderson, PLLC
480-825-4509
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