As photographers who take pictures for our clients, do we own copyrights of the photos or do the clients?

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As photographers who take pictures for our clients, do we own copyrights of the photos or do the clients?

Asked on October 20, 2015 under Business Law, Illinois

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

The clients own the photographs unless there was an agreement or terms of  service/sale stating that you owned the rights. Otherwise, when you take photos or do anything else artistic or creative because a customer or client hired you to do so, this is a "work made for hire" and the rights belong to the customer/client.


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