Q: When something is created by a ghost writer, what about the copyrights?

Follow up:

A: Rights Retention vs. Work-for-Hire

Without diving too deeply into legalese, there are two basic areas of copyright that are applicable to ghostwriting.

Work-for-Hire

In a work-for-hire arrangement, through the engagement contract a stipulation is made that the ghostwriter will be paid on a one-time basis for the execution of the work. Once complete, the copyright for the work becomes property of the client. The ghostwriter, the real author of the work, gets no compensation beyond the original hire agreement.

Rights Retention

In a rights retention arrangement, the ghostwriter retains copyright for all works created under the agreement. The agreement grants the client a license to use the work (and represent it as his/her own) for a specific period of time. This grant of license can be either exclusive (only ONE client can use the work during the license period) or non-exclusive (multiple clients may have similar licenses to a work.)

What We Do

ChaliceMedia LLC retains ALL rights to work product generated under the BlogSpook brand. Clients may acquire either exclusive or non-exclusive rights to works.

Questions regarding copyright or other intellectual property rights, should be directed to a qualified I.P. (Intellectual Property) attorney.