If I wrote lyrics to a musical that I created but hired a professional musician to write the melody to the lyrics, when filling out the SR form for copywrite who obtains ownership?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I wrote lyrics to a musical that I created but hired a professional musician to write the melody to the lyrics, when filling out the SR form for copywrite who obtains ownership?
Asked on February 20, 2013 under Business Law, Michigan
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You both do unless you make it very clear that his work was a work for hire and not subject to his copyright and he signed such an agreement. If you have no such agreement, then the copyright is 50/50 and you should each be listed and profits will be split if the whole piece is used.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.