Basic Copyright Issues:
Work for Hire
Generally, we think of the author as the person who created the manuscript, film, photograph, or other original work of art. However, as far as copyright law is concerned, the "author" is the person or organization who owns the copyright.
If you are paid for producing something, you may have put yourself in a "work for hire" situation where you are not legally considered the author of your own work. For example, I edited Alcoholism and Pastoral Ministry, my second book, while working for Guest House. Because I was paid to edit this book as part of my employment, Guest House is the legal author of the Alcoholism and Pastoral Ministry as far as copyright is concerned. There are cases where I have sold or given away my rights to writing I created. In those cases, I am no longer the legal author of the writing.
Students do not need to worry that "Work for Hire" applies to their course work. Even if you author a painting or paper or project under a professor's direction, you — not your professor — are the legal author.
