What is a work made for hire?
Print this Article
Comment on this Article
Last Updated:
January 18, 2007 3:03 PM
The general rule is that the person who creates the work is its author, but there is an exception to that principle. The exception is a “work made for hire,” which is a work:
(i) prepared by an employee within the scope of employment, or
(ii) specially ordered or commissioned and where the parties have a signed document expressly stating the work is made for hire.
The employer or commissioning party of a work made for hire is considered the author.