Who Owns The Copyright of Your Copy?

When you hire a copywriter for any copywriting services, you might wonder who gets to own the copyright to your copy? (Wow, now say that sentence 10 times in a row). The answer is;

it depends.

In Australia, copyright is free and automatic and exists the moment you record an idea down in material form such as writing, drawing or painting. In most instances, it belongs to the original author (whoever created it first) but this might not apply under certain employment conditions. You have options for what you want to do with your copyrighted material including keeping it, transferring ownership or licensing it (to name a few). For more information on copyright, head to the Australian Copyright Council’s website here or Arts Law Australia’s website here.

To give a very loosey, goosey, general overview, most copywriters transfer copyright ownership to their clients once all work has been paid for in full. Especially if you have hired someone as an independent contractor. Make sure you review the terms and conditions of your working relationship so you know what the deal is with copyright ownership.

If someone is employed by you to write copy as an employee, you most likely own the copyright of anything they’ve created under their employment. Your best bet is to speak to a lawyer and review your work contracts. The Business Queensland website has lots of helpful information on intellectual property created under employment here.

A final word on copyright and copywrite, and copywriting copyrighters.

If you’ve ever accidentally typed into Google “copyright” instead of “copywrite” (or vice versa) you’re not alone. As far as homophones go, they are confusing. It may help to remember the following:

Copyright

A type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work in a tangible form of expression.

Copywrite

According to Google - not a word. If you want to say what a copywriter does, it isn’t correct to say they “copywrite” but instead to say they “write copy.” Kinda like saying, I don’t coffeedrink but I do drink coffee.

Copyrighter

Someone who obtains the copyright on a work.

Copywriter

A professional who writes text (a.k.a copy) for the purpose of advertising or marketing a business.

As fas as Storyteller Studio goes, I retain the copyright of any copy I write until payment of all services is received in full. You then become the copyrighter while I stay working as a copywriter…(or something like that).

And I thought “she sells seashells by the seashore” was a mouthful.

Need help with your copy? Let’s talk. Get in touch with me here or peruse my services here.