Work For Hire Agreements

Outten & Golden attorneys are highly skilled at negotiating the terms of work for hire agreements and advising individuals on their legal ramifications. We are aggressive about protecting our clients from agreements that are unfair or overreaching. Our attorneys work with tax and intellectual property attorneys to ensure that our clients receive the best advice on the special issues raised by work for hire agreements.

Work for hire agreements arise when an employer hires an individual as an independent contractor to create a specific piece of work, whether artistic, scientific, or technical. While work for hire agreements usually arise in the entertainment, artistic, publishing, or advertising industries, they are sometimes seen in the financial services industry as well. Work for hire agreements contain provisions such as the method of compensation, the assignment of intellectual property interests, and the individual’s right to future use of the work.