Do I own the work a freelancer creates for me?

Hiring a freelancer doesn’t always mean you automatically own the intellectual property (IP) they create. Under U.S. copyright law, the default rule is that the creator may retain ownership of their work unless there’s a written agreement stating otherwise. In practice, paying for a creative project—like a logo, website, or marketing campaign—may only give you a license to use the work, not full legal ownership.

The “work-for-hire” doctrine can sometimes transfer ownership at the moment of creation, but it applies only in narrow situations and must be clearly agreed to in writing before work begins. More commonly, ownership is transferred through a written IP assignment that expressly transfers the rights from the freelancer to you. We help clients put these agreements in place so they can be confident they have clear rights to the creative assets they commission—reducing the risk of future disputes and protecting their ability to grow and monetize their brands.