What does Work-for-Hire mean?
Work-for-Hire refers to a legal term where the employer, rather than the individual creator, owns the rights to the work produced. In the entertainment industry, this is commonly used in contracts for screenwriters, directors, and other creatives hired by a production company. For example, if a screenwriter is hired under a work-for-hire agreement to write a script, the production company would retain all ownership and rights to the script, including any potential profits from distribution or adaptations.
Example:The screenwriter signed a work-for-hire contract, meaning the production company owned the script once it was completed.
Example: A director hired for a commercial project worked under a work-for-hire agreement, meaning the client retained all rights to the final product.
Did You Know?
In many work-for-hire agreements, creators don’t receive royalties or residuals, as the company owns the rights to the work!
