Re: ownership rights

["David M. Brown" <dmbrown -at- BROWN-INC -dot- COM>]

Lori Wiens wrote:
>
> Consultants and Contractors:
>
> Do you generally retain ownership/copyrights to your help systems
> (or other documentation), or sign these over to the client?

"Work for hire" is owned by the payer of the consulting fee or contractor wages.


> Do you provide just the output help files, or all the project files?

"Work for hire" includes the source materials, as well as the finished (compiled, printed, or web-uploaded) version of those source materials.  It also typically includes any tools and processes developed on the payer's time.

The only exception is materials, tools, artwork, and processes owned or developed by the consultant or contractor before the work for the payer was begun, and clearly specified in the agreement between the payer and the consultant or contractor.


> Know of any good resources on handling these issues for tech. writers?

For a "real" answer, you should ask an attorney who specializes in contract law--I'm not one.

--David

=============================
 David M. Brown - Brown Inc.
    dmbrown -at- brown-inc -dot- com
=============================

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