| Copyright: "The exclusive legal right to reproduce, | | | | Freelance writers and copyright laws coexist in |
| publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of | | | | different ways. Your client is paying you to create a |
| something (as a literary, musical, or artistic work)." | | | | work for them and in the process of "work for hire," |
| Miriam Webster's Dictionary | | | | you may transfer the rights of ownership to them as |
| In short, a copyright is protection for your creative | | | | well. To ensure there are no misunderstandings, |
| works. As the creator of a work, you own the rights | | | | always specify in your agreement whether or not the |
| to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, sell or rent | | | | rights are going to be transferred. In the event of |
| your creation or its derivative works. With the Digital | | | | non-payment, you may also want to specify that the |
| Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, you aren't required | | | | client is specifically not allowed to use the works and |
| explicitly to copyright a work to receive this protection. | | | | you retain all rights over the works. If you intend to |
| Unless you explicitly release your work into the "public | | | | retain your rights over the work with a freelance client, |
| domain," you receive automatic copyright protection. | | | | make absolute sure this is communicated upfront as |
| However, it may still be a good idea to register the | | | | most clients expect to own the works they pay for. |
| copyright for a creative work with the government in | | | | This article constitutes suggestions based on the |
| case you need to prove you are the creator in the | | | | author's personal experience and advice received. For |
| event of theft. For a simple article, this may be more | | | | professional legal advice, always seek out your own |
| of a hassle than it's worth, but for something more | | | | lawyer. They can save you a lot of hassle in the long |
| complex like an essay, a video or a song, having a | | | | run by making sure you are protected no matter how |
| register copyright can protect you and ensure your | | | | you intend to transfer copy rights between you and |
| rights are protected as well. | | | | your client for work completed. |
| How do copyright laws apply if you're a freelancer? | | | | |