Who owns the code I write for a client (copyright)?
In the US, with computer programs, as long as there is NOT an employment relationship, and the copyright was NOT purported {handed over to} the client, the programmer retains all copyrights. These are the two main factors that come into play with commissioned work such as computer programs. A case citation for determining an employment relationship is a supreme court case decided in 1989 about a commissioned statue. (Case citation: 490 US 730 1989) Contracts can be crafted to say anything you want them to. Naturally, a consultant would do best to negotiate a contract that gives him/her the copyright in all works created. However, this is not the norm. Most companies that hire contractors have carefully written contracts, and they give ownership to the company. When you are writing source code for a client, consider whether or not you desire to retain copyright. If that matters to you, discuss it with the client, and pay for legal advice and assistance drawing up a contract that protect
