IPR HelpDesk: "Software Copyright and Employees Creations in UK and US Law"

This guide from the IPR HelpDesk examines copyright ownership issues related to software development, specifically discussing copyright law in the United Kingdom and the United States. The laws of the European Community and the United States grant copyright in software created by an employee to the employer, and this paper begins with an overview of the applicable law of copyright and works made for hire, including

• Who is the first owner of a protected computer programs protected?
• How is the Employment Status Determined?
• What are the Requirements for an Explicit or Implicit Transfer of Copyright?
• Who owns the work in cases without an express agreement?
• Summary

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