Question 1

03 | Wouldn't I own work I commission you to do?

amandasalisbury · Accepted Answer

No, not necessarily. When you hire us, you are buying research services, writing services, or both. Those services typically come with a license to use our original work as defined by U.S. Copyright law.

Some commissioned works are considered “works made for hire” and have special copyright rules so that the buyer owns the copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office explains this topic on their Circulars page (link opens in a new tab). See Circular 30, Works Made For Hire.

When you and we set our contract terms, you can specifically ask us to consider our original work to be work made for hire. First, we’ll see if the work is a type covered by the “work made for hire” law. If it is and if we agree to consider the work to be “work made for hire”:

We expressly say so in the contract,
You agree to pay an extra amount, and
You own the copyright.

We expressly say so in the contract,
You agree to pay an extra amount, and
You own the copyright.

Question 2

05 | Can I buy all the rights to your work?

amandasalisbury · Accepted Answer

Yes if we agree. We can choose to sell you some, all, or none of the rights related to our original work. Typically, when you buy our services we will grant you a license to use our original work.

When you and we make a contract, you can ask to buy more rights, like full copyright ownership. If we agree:

The contract will expressly say so,
You will pay extra, and
You will own the rights as described in the contract.

The U.S. Copyright Office publishes documents about copyrights on their Circulars page (link opens in a new tab). Circular 1 describes the exclusive rights of a copyright owner.

Question 3

02 | Who owns the work product you create?

amandasalisbury · Accepted Answer

We own our original work that is protected by copyright law. Copyright laws are complex. In the U.S., both statues and case law help define the work that can be protected by copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office publishes several documents, called Circulars, that help explain copyright laws. See their Circulars page (link opens in a new tab). Some categories that may be particularly helpful include:

Foundations of Copyright, especially Circular 1, and
Copyright Concepts, especially Circulars 14, 30, 33, and 34.

Question 4

03 | Wouldn't I own work I commission you to do?

amandasalisbury · Accepted Answer

No, not necessarily. When you hire us, you are buying research services, writing services, or both. Those services typically come with a license to use our original work as defined by U.S. Copyright law.

Some commissioned works are considered “works made for hire” and have special copyright rules so that the buyer owns the copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office explains this topic on their Circulars page (link opens in a new tab). See Circular 30, Works Made For Hire.

When you and we set our contract terms, you can specifically ask us to consider our original work to be work made for hire. First, we’ll see if the work is a type covered by the “work made for hire” law. If it is and if we agree to consider the work to be “work made for hire”:

We expressly say so in the contract,
You agree to pay an extra amount, and
You own the copyright.

We expressly say so in the contract,
You agree to pay an extra amount, and
You own the copyright.

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03 | Wouldn’t I own work I commission you to do?

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03 | Wouldn’t I own work I commission you to do?

03 | Wouldn’t I own work I commission you to do?

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