Intellectual Property Protection, Copyright, Independent Contractors

I Paid for That Software to Be Developed, So Why Don’t I Own It?

Amundsen Davis LLC on 5/22/2025

You may believe that your company has an unfettered right to do what it wants with a computer program created by its workers—but that may not be the case. Consider the two similar scenarios below: Suppose that your...more

Artificial Intelligence in the Modern Workplace: Safeguarding Source Code Generated with AI Assistance

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP on 11/29/2023

Generally, an employer owns all rights in software code created by its employee in the scope of their employment. As outlined in the last edition of this series, this general rule typically applies to independent contractors...more

Producers of Creative Work Beware

Littler on 10/8/2021

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently held that the creator of The Friday the 13th screenplay could terminate his copyright grant to Horror Inc. (the producer of the movie franchise) and reclaim it. ...more

Employment Law Issues to Consider Before Including Work Made for Hire Clauses in Contractor Agreements

Farella Braun + Martel LLP on 4/30/2021

For most employers, it is important to own the intellectual property rights in written and/or graphic work commissioned from independent contractors. But including a Work Made for Hire Clause (“WMFH Clause”) in an...more

This Week at the Ninth: Floral Prints and Janitors

Morrison & Foerster LLP - Left Coast Appeals on 2/8/2021

This week, we take a look at one Ninth Circuit decision addressing how to assess damages among multiple copyright infringers, and another examining the implications of changes in California law governing the distinction...more

Dissension Follows When Business Owners Don’t Put Their IP House in Order

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on 7/23/2018

When you think about protecting a business firm’s intellectual property (IP), usually you think about protecting it from infringement by external actors. But there also are internal threats — even mortal ones — to the...more

Copyright Strategies for Start-Up Companies

As a leader of a start-up company, you are probably aware of the importance of protecting your company’s innovative products, services and technologies through patent filings. If you are savvy, you are also aware of the...more

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