Freelance Writers and Copyright Laws
Online Freelance Work – Freelance Writers and Copyright Laws
Copyright: "The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (as a literary, musical, or artistic work)." Miriam Webster’s Dictionary
In short, a copyright is protection for your creative works. As the creator of a work, you own the rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, sell or rent your creation or its derivative works. With the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, you aren’t required explicitly to copyright a work to receive this protection. Unless you explicitly release your work into the "public domain," you receive automatic copyright protection.
However, it may still be a good idea to register the copyright for a creative work with the government in case you need to prove you are the creator in the event of theft. For a simple article, this may be more of a hassle than it’s worth, but for something more complex like an essay, a video or a song, having a register copyright can protect you and ensure your rights are protected as well.
How do copyright laws apply if you’re a freelancer?
Freelance writers and copyright laws coexist in different ways. Your client is paying you to create a work for them and in the process of "work for hire," you may transfer the rights of ownership to them as well. To ensure there are no misunderstandings, always specify in your agreement whether or not the rights are going to be transferred. In the event of non-payment, you may also want to specify that the client is specifically not allowed to use the works and you retain all rights over the works. If you intend to retain your rights over the work with a freelance client, make absolute sure this is communicated upfront as most clients expect to own the works they pay for.
This article constitutes suggestions based on the author’s personal experience and advice received. For professional legal advice, always seek out your own lawyer. They can save you a lot of hassle in the long run by making sure you are protected no matter how you intend to transfer copy rights between you and your client for work completed.
Author: John Le Bleu
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