Which term describes a work created by a contractor for an employer and owned by the employer?

Which term describes a work created by a contractor for an employer and owned by the employer?

• A. Employee ownership
• B. Public domain
• C. Work for hire
• D. Independent work

Answer: (C)

Work-for-hire describes a setup where the employer owns the copyright to a work created by a contractor. In this arrangement, the employer is treated as the author and holds the rights to the work, typically because the work is either produced within the scope of the employer’s business or is a specially ordered or commissioned work with a written agreement stating it will be a work-for-hire. This matches the situation described: a contractor creates something for an employer, and the employer owns it. The other terms don’t fit because public domain means no copyright or unrestricted use, employee ownership would mean the worker owns the rights, and independent work implies the contractor retains ownership.

Work-for-hire describes a setup where the employer owns the copyright to a work created by a contractor. In this arrangement, the employer is treated as the author and holds the rights to the work, typically because the work is either produced within the scope of the employer’s business or is a specially ordered or commissioned work with a written agreement stating it will be a work-for-hire. This matches the situation described: a contractor creates something for an employer, and the employer owns it. The other terms don’t fit because public domain means no copyright or unrestricted use, employee ownership would mean the worker owns the rights, and independent work implies the contractor retains ownership.