Who owns a copyright?
Under the copyright law, the creator of the original expression in a work is its author. The author is also the owner of copyright unless there is a written agreement by which the author assigns the copyright to another person or entity, such as a publisher. However, in cases of works made for hire, the employer or commissioning party is considered to be the author and initial copyright owner. A work made for hire is a work prepared by an employee (not an independent contractor) within the scope of his or her employment; or a work specially ordered or commissioned pursuant to a signed, written work made for hire agreement in certain specified circumstances.
