If I sell my copyright, can I still call myself "author"?

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• July 25, 2009 @ 9:06amCharlottean says:

  I was offered a contract under which I write a specific piece of literature and assign all associated copyright to the person paying for this work.
  Question - after this contract is complete and all copyright is assigned, can I still call myself the author of this work for non-monetary purposes (i.e. to list this work on my resume, mention it in application to graduate schools etc.)?
  
  Thanks in advance for any piece of advice you give,
  Denis
• July 26, 2009 @ 5:04pmksmith says:

  Assuming you are describing the relationship accurately, you can, unless you gave up that right as part of your contract with the assignee. When a work is created as a work for hire, the copyright law designates the employer as the author from the moment of creation. But if you transfer your copyright after the work is created, as you describe, you will always be the author, even though someone else will be the copyright holder. This is the case with most commercial publications, after all, where the publisher is the copyright holder, but Stephen King or J.K. Rowling is still the author. You should remember, however, that US law does not recognize a "moral" right of attribution, so if you want the new copyright owner to always name you as the author, that stipulation should be part of the agreement.

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