17 U.S.C. § 204: Transfers of copyright ownership

Citation: 17 U.S.C. § 204

Type: Statute

Jurisdiction: Federal

Issuing body: U.S. Congress

Status: In force

A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, must be in a signed writing under subsection (a). An independent contractor generally keeps ownership of custom work unless there is a signed assignment, since computer programs are not among the statutory work-made-for-hire categories.

Related guides.

• Ownership, Registration, and the Right to Sue
• Software, Website, and Digital Content Disputes

Sources.

• Cornell LII: 17 U.S.C. § 204

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