Hiring a freelance artist.

January 25, 2011 @ 11:02pmjlane425 says:
I am developing childrens books, and children's music cd's/video's. I want to hire freelance artists to help create the content artwork. Is it possible for me to own the copyright in full if I they sell their rights of the work to me?
January 26, 2011 @ 12:45pmJanetCroft says:
You can indeed make it part of the contract that their artwork is done for hire and the copyright becomes your property. The artist, who owns the copyright when the work is created, can sign away any of his or her rights in the work as desired. For example, the artist might want to retain the rights to display the original work in her portfolio but grant you all other rights. Since this is the first time you are doing this, it would be best to find a lawyer to help you write up the contract so that it is fair and attractive to both parties.
January 28, 2011 @ 3:42pmGClement says:
Adding to Janet's helpful answer, if you want to read up on what the Copyright Law considers a work-for-hire, check out the free handout from the Copyright Office, "Works Made for Hire Under the 1976 Copyright Act" [http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ09.pdf]

According to this document, the freelance artist's work sounds like it would fit within the second category of 'Work-for-Hire", that is, a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a collective work".

Posting to the forum is only available to users who are logged in.