CompuServe Messages

I am not an attorney, and you should contact one if there is any issue as to who owns the copyright of a particular piece of work. But, a book that I have entitled "The Copyright Act of 1976" states that the copyright for artwork or photographic images belongs to the artist unless either of two conditions exist. The first condition is that the artist is an EMPLOYEE of the company that the "work" was done for. In this case the company owns the the rights. The second condition exisits when the two parties are separate entities and enter into a contract for services. In this case the artist retains the rights to the "work" unless the phrase WORK FOR HIRE appears in the contract, then the other party (who hired the artist) would retain the rights to the "work". This is one of the gray areas of the law that keep attorney's from starving. As I stated previously, consult with an attorney. There may be additional laws that apply or "implied contracts". Have your attorney draw up the contract for you, it might cost a few dollars, but a lot less than possible lost income or lawsuits. Also consider that copyright suits can take several years to complete, and consume lots of your resources. Protect yourself, no one else will. I usually release the rights for broadcast to the client, however in my contracts I have a clause that allows me to keep a copy of the work to use in promoting my services, my company's services (demo reels are very important!), or to enter into exhibitions (Telly awards, video festivals). This has worked for me for the last 5 years with few objections or problems. When in doubt consult with a professional. Good Luck! Stan Shumlick 2 Tall Video Prods. Glendale, CA Happiness is just a render away…