Copyright Assignment: A How-To Guide

What is copyright assignment?

A copyright is a form of protection federal law provides to creators of “original works of authorship.” This includes literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, both published and unpublished. The author of a copyrighted work can prevent others from copying, performing, or using the work without its consent. You can transfer any or all of these rights as part of a copyright sale.

A copyright assignment is the transfer of an owner’s property rights in a given creative work or works. Such transfers may occur on their own or as parts of larger asset sales or purchases. Copyright assignment agreements provide records of ownership and transfer and protect the rights of all parties.

Benefits of copyright assignment

The advantage of selling your copyright outright (and not simply licensing or attempting to develop and market it yourself) is that you are guaranteed payment at the price you and the purchaser have negotiated.

On the other hand, that one-time payment is all you will ever receive for your intellectual property, and you will no longer have the right to control anyone else’s use of your creation. By selling it or licensing it through your own company, the potential for future income remains, although that income is by no means certain.

Before selling all of your rights in copyright, ensure this is the best (and most lucrative) approach for you and your company. 

Protecting yourself when buying or selling copyright

When it does come time to grow a business, companies looking to purchase property (including copyrights or software) to support their growth must be sure that the seller does, in fact, have title to the desired items. A properly drafted copyright assignment can help in both circumstances. 

Below, we'll give some tips for crafting a written acknowledgment of the rights and responsibilities being transferred as part of your sale. This will provide essential documentation of ownership and liability obligations, and you will be well on your way to establishing a clear record of title for all of your copyrighted works. 

Elements of a copyright assignment document

The following provision-by-provision instructions will help you understand the terms of your assignment. The numbers and letters below (e.g., Section 1, Section 2, etc.) correspond to the provisions in the agreement. Please review the entire document before starting your step-by-step process. 

Introduction of parties

This section identifies the document as a copyright assignment. Write in the date on which the document is effective (usually the date that it is signed). Identify the parties and, if applicable, what type of organization(s) they are. Note that each party is given a name (e.g., “Assignor”) that will be used throughout the agreement. The assignor is the party that is giving (“assigning”) its ownership interest, and the "Assignee" is the party receiving it.

Recitals

The “whereas” clauses, referred to as recitals, define the world of the agreement and offer key background information about the parties. In this agreement, this section includes a simple statement of the intent to transfer rights in the works created.

Section 1: Assignment of works

This important section details the assignment and acceptance of the assignment. Note that the works being assigned are not listed in the agreement itself. The agreement references “Schedule 1” and explains that a full list of the created items is located on that Schedule. Be as complete and clear as possible in your description of the property being transferred. 

Section 2: Consideration

In most agreements, each party is expected to do something. This obligation may be to perform a service, transfer ownership of property, or pay money. In this case, the Assignee is giving money (sometimes called “consideration”) to receive the Assignor’s property. Enter the amount to be paid, and indicate how long the Assignee has to make that payment after the agreement is signed.

Section 3: Assignor’s representations and warranties

The Assignor must make certain promises about the works being sold. More specifically, the Assignor is swearing that:

• 3(a): It is the owner
• 3(b): The works are original
• 3(c): It has not sold or transferred the property to any third party
• 3(d): It has the authority to enter the agreement
• 3(e): It does not believe that the works have been taken from any third party without authorization (e.g., a knowing copy of a novel)
• 3(f): It does not know of any permissions that have to be obtained in order for the assignment to be completed. In other words, once the agreement is signed, the assignment will be effective without anyone else’s input
• 3(g): The works weren’t created while the creator was employed by a third party. In many cases, if an individual is employed by a company and comes up with a product, the company will own that product. This section offers assurance to the assignee that there are no companies that will make that claim about the works being sold.

If you and the other party want to include additional representations and warranties, you can do so here. 

Section 4: Assignee’s representations and warranties

This section details the Assignee’s promises about the transaction. More specifically, the Assignee is swearing that it:

• 4(a): Has the authority to enter the agreement
• 4(b) Has enough funds to pay for the assignment. 

If you and the other party want to include additional representations and warranties, you can do so here. 

Section 5: No early assignment

This provision prevents the Assignee from re-transferring the work, or using it as collateral for loans, until it has made complete payment of the money due under the agreement.

Section 6: Documentation

The Assignor promises to help with any paperwork needed to complete the assignment (e.g., filing information about the assignment with the U.S. Copyright Office and transferring document titles). Optionally, the Assignor will sometimes make the additional promise that they will help with transfer paperwork for filings outside of the country.

Section 7: Future use

This section should clearly indicate the Assignor's ability to use the copyright in the future. You can opt for the one that best suits your agreement.

Option 1: No further use of works

This option indicates that after the effective date of the agreement, the Assignor will stop using all of the works and will not challenge the Assignee’s use of those works. Essentially, this option cuts off the Assignor’s use of the transferred property completely—after the sale, it will have no ability to use those items for any purpose.

Option 2: Non-exclusive license to the assignor

This option favors the Assignor a bit more than the first. It states that the Assignor will have the right to use the works and create derivative works from it, although it will not receive royalties for this use. This may be necessary, for example, if the works being sold are source codes for software. Although the copyright and the related rights to sell the product may rest in the Assignee, the parties might think it reasonable for the Assignor to continue to use the code it created.

Section 8: Successors and assigns

This states that the parties’ rights and obligations will be passed on to successor organizations (if any), or organizations to which rights and obligations have been permissibly assigned.

Section 9: No implied waiver

Even if one party allows the other to ignore or break an obligation under the agreement, it does not mean that the party waives any future rights to require the other to fulfill those (or any other) obligations.

Section 10: Notice

This important section lists the addresses to which all official or legal correspondence should be delivered. Write a mailing address for both the Assignor and the Assignee.

Section 11: Governing law

This provision allows the parties to choose the state laws that will be used to interpret the document. Note that this is not a venue provision. The included language will not impact where a potential claim can be brought.

Section 12: Counterparts/electronic signatures

The title of this provision sounds complicated, but it's simple: Even if the parties sign the agreement in different locations, or use electronic devices to transmit signatures (e.g., fax machines or computers), all of the separate pieces will be considered part of the same agreement. In a modern world where signing parties are often not in the same city—much less the same room—this provision ensures that business can be transacted efficiently without sacrificing the validity of the agreement as a whole.

Section 13: Severability

Even if one part of the agreement is later invalidated, this clause protects the terms of the agreement as a whole. For example, if a state law is passed prohibiting choice-of-law clauses, it will not undo the entire agreement. Instead, only the section dealing with the choice of law would be invalidated, leaving the remainder of the assignment enforceable.

Section 14: Entire agreement

This confirms that the document the parties are signing is the entire and whole agreement about the issues involved. Unfortunately, the inclusion of this provision will not prevent a party from arguing that other enforceable promises exist, but it will provide you some protection from these claims.

Section 15: Headings

These are additional documents that support the agreement.

Note that the headings at the beginning of each section are meant to organize the document and should not be considered operational parts of the note.

Schedule 1: List of works transferred

In order for a copyright assignment to be effective, the work being transferred must be clearly identified. Be thorough in your description and attach any registrations or samples you may have (if practicable).

If you do include samples, reference the inclusion or transfer of those samples in the schedule (e.g., “A copy of this document is attached.”). If you do not include samples, provide a thorough and complete description of the work. Consider attaching photographs for large-scale objects (e.g., sculptures or paintings).

Additional headings

You may need to attach additional addendums, schedules, or supporting documents based on the nature of your agreement.

Other considerations

Here are some things to keep in mind when you're assigning a copyright (or acquiring one).

Exclusivity

A copyright transfer is not valid unless it is in writing and signed by the owner or its authorized agent. If you want to transfer a right on a non-exclusive basis, a written agreement is usually not required.

Note that in copyright law, an exclusive license essentially works as a transfer. The exclusive licensee can use the copyright, assign it to a third party, or sue a third party for infringement. A nonexclusive licensee has the first of these, but neither of the other two rights.

Document Cover Sheet

A copyright transfer is typically accomplished through a contract. Although not technically required, assignments should also be recorded with the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) to provide notice of the ownership change. No special forms are needed for recordation, although the USCO does encourage registrants to use a Document Cover Sheet to facilitate such recordings. If you decide to file a Document Cover Sheet, provide at least two (2) copies of this form with the assignment itself.

Exclusivity of form

Copyright ownership is different from ownership of physical copies of the work. The assignment does not transfer ownership of a physical item, even if there is a physical representation of the copyright. The author of a bestseller may hold a copyright in her book, but that doesn’t mean she owns every copy of the book that has ever been published. If you want to transfer a tangible item that represents or includes the copyright, you must draft and sign a separate sales agreement for that property. 

Term of assignment

A copyright assignment does not have to be forever and does not need to be a complete assignment. You can grant a transfer for a specific period of time, in a specific area, or for a specific medium (e.g., allowing online use but not film use).

Next steps after crafting the document

Both parties should review the assignment carefully to ensure that all relevant deal points have been included. It is better to be over-inclusive than under-inclusive. Do not assume that certain expectations or terms are agreed to if they are not stated expressly in the document.

Sign two copies of the assignment, one for you and one for the other party.

It’s a good idea to have your assignment notarized. This will limit later challenges to the validity of a party’s signature or of the transfer itself.

Craft your copyright assignment document with LegalZoom

LegalZoom can help you with your copyright assignment. We'll meet you where your at, whether you're looking to DIY or get personalized help from an attorney.

Our attorney-drafted Copyright Assignment Template follows the format detailed here, with room to expand to meet your needs.

If your agreement is complicated, you may prefer to work with an attorney. Our Business Attorney Plans give you unlimited 30-minute consultations with a dedicated business attorney to advise you as you craft your document—and review it when you're done.