What are the copyright rules for "works-for-hire" in the EU/UK?

Greg Anos · 12-31-2018, 01:07 PM

This is something I don't know about, but would like to know.

The EU/UK is life + 70. However, what happens to a work that was done as a work-for-hire (like a pulp story written and sold to a magazine, without any royalties). When would it go PD?

One of the Doc Savage ghost writers will go PD on Jan 1, 2021. . . .

latepaul · 01-01-2019, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Where a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or a film, is made by an employee in the course of his employment, his employer is the first owner of any copyright in the work (subject to any agreement to the contrary). The expression “in the course of employment” is not defined by the Act but in settling disputes the courts have typically had to decide whether the employee was working under a ‘contract of service’ (eg as an employee) or a ‘contract for services’ (eg as a freelancer or independent contractor).

Where a person works under a ‘contract for services’ he will usually retain copyright in any works he produces, unless there is a contractual agreement to the contrary.

An employer should keep careful records of which person(s) created the work for them and any contractual agreements which were in force. The period of copyright protection will usually still be linked to the date of the death of the creator(s) - that is the employee(s).

(source)

HarryT · 01-01-2019, 07:37 AM

Exactly. For a film, for example, copyright expires 70 years after the deaths of the director, screenplay author and composer, whichever lives the longest.

Greg Anos · 01-01-2019, 08:43 AM

Thank both of you. I didn't know this piece of copyright law.

12-31-2018, 01:07 PM	#1
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,247 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	What are the copyright rules for "works-for-hire" in the EU/UK? This is something I don't know about, but would like to know. The EU/UK is life + 70. However, what happens to a work that was done as a work-for-hire (like a pulp story written and sold to a magazine, without any royalties). When would it go PD? One of the Doc Savage ghost writers will go PD on Jan 1, 2021. . . .

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01-01-2019, 07:37 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Exactly. For a film, for example, copyright expires 70 years after the deaths of the director, screenplay author and composer, whichever lives the longest.

01-01-2019, 08:43 AM	#4
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,247 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Thank both of you. I didn't know this piece of copyright law.