How does a 'work-for-hire' determination affect a composer hired for a scoring project?

How does a 'work-for-hire' determination affect a composer hired for a scoring project?

• A. If the work qualifies as work-for-hire, the employer/commissioner owns the copyright.
• B. The composer owns the copyright.
• C. Ownership is shared.
• D. The work enters the public domain.

Answer: (A)

Work-for-hire means the party who hires the creator is treated as the author for copyright purposes. In a scoring project, a film or other audiovisual score can qualify as a work made for hire if there’s a written agreement designating it as such and it fits one of the recognized categories (such as a contribution to a motion picture or audiovisual work). When that designation applies, the employer/commissioner is the copyright owner, not the composer. The composer would only own the copyright if the work is not treated as work-for-hire and no assignment or license transfer has been made. Public domain isn’t triggered by a work-for-hire; it happens only after the copyright term expires.

Work-for-hire means the party who hires the creator is treated as the author for copyright purposes. In a scoring project, a film or other audiovisual score can qualify as a work made for hire if there’s a written agreement designating it as such and it fits one of the recognized categories (such as a contribution to a motion picture or audiovisual work). When that designation applies, the employer/commissioner is the copyright owner, not the composer. The composer would only own the copyright if the work is not treated as work-for-hire and no assignment or license transfer has been made. Public domain isn’t triggered by a work-for-hire; it happens only after the copyright term expires.