work made for hire
A legal doctrine, mainly in United States copyright law, under which an employer or commissioning party is treated as the author of certain works.
Definition
Work made for hire is a concept in United States copyright law where, in certain situations, the party that employs or commissions a creator is treated as the legal author. For commissioned work by independent contractors it applies only to specific categories and requires a signed written agreement. Other countries use different rules, often assigning ownership by contract. For this reason, agency contracts should say who owns the final work, when ownership transfers (often on payment), and what rights the agency keeps for portfolio use. Seek legal advice for specifics.
In a sentence
The contract assigned all final artwork to the client upon full payment.
The agency kept the right to show the project in its portfolio.
Common mix-up
Rules differ by country; do not assume the same outcome outside the United States.
