Work for Hire
A copyright doctrine under which work created by an employee within the scope of employment — or specially commissioned work that falls into nine statutory categories — is owned by the employer or commissioning party from the moment of creation.
What it means
Work-for-hire is defined by 17 U.S.C. § 101. For employees, anything they create within the scope of their employment is automatically owned by the employer. For independent contractors, work-for-hire status only applies to nine narrow categories (e.g., contributions to a collective work, audiovisual work, translations) AND requires a written agreement signed before creation. Outside those categories, contractor work must be assigned by separate written agreement.
Primary sources
Read more
- IP Clauses in Contracts: What You Need to Know — Understand IP clauses in contracts — who owns what you create, how assignment works, and why work-for-hire rules matter for freelancers and businesses.