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Simple English definitions for legal terms
work made for hire
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A quick definition of work made for hire:
Work made for hire: When someone creates something for their job, sometimes their employer owns the rights to it. This is called a "work made for hire." It can also happen when someone is hired to make something specific, like a movie or a book. If the employer and the person making the work agree in writing that it's a work made for hire, then the employer owns the rights to it. But not all things made by employees are works made for hire. If the person making the work is more like a contractor and has control over how they do their job, then they might own the rights to what they make instead.
A more thorough explanation:
Work made for hire is a legal term that refers to a work created by an employee within the scope of their employment or a work specially ordered or commissioned for certain purposes. In this case, the employer, not the employee, is considered the author and owns all rights associated with the work under copyright law.
For example, if a graphic designer creates a logo for their employer as part of their job duties, the logo is considered a work made for hire, and the employer owns the copyright to the logo. Similarly, if a company hires a photographer to take pictures for their website, the photographs are considered works made for hire, and the company owns the copyright to the photographs.
However, not all works created by employees are works made for hire. If an employee creates a work outside the scope of their regular job duties, the work is not considered a work made for hire. Additionally, if a person is an independent contractor, they retain the copyright to their work unless they sign a written agreement stating otherwise.
Overall, work made for hire is an important concept in copyright law that helps determine who owns the rights to a particular work.