Who owns the copyright if I hire somebody for a creative work?

If you hire someone who is not part of your company, for example an external freelancer, you may not own the copyright. This is because copyright is automatically held by the person who created the work. Confusion can arise when an entrepreneur awards a contract and pays for a creative work. Therefore, it’s important to get a written agreement in place in advance that regulates the transfer of the copyright.

Conversely, if you work for a company as an employee, your company is likely to own the copyright, if this is written in your employment contract or any other contract. If others hire you for creative work, it’s important to be clear about who will hold the copyright in advance.