What is an Assignment of Copyright?

An Assignment of Copyright is a legal document that transfers the copyrights from one person or organization (the “Assignor”) to another person or organization (the “Assignee”). The document also outlines the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the Assignee. In the state of Washington, the copyright holder is the one with the right to authorize any reproduction, display, or distribution of their work. When a copyright is assigned, the Assignor transfers the copyright to the Assignee, who then becomes responsible for protecting the copyright, negotiating licenses, and collecting royalties due to the copyright holder. Generally, the Assignor will receive some compensation for the transfer of copyright. When a copyright is assigned to another party, the Assignor still holds some rights to the work. They may retain the right to reprint the work, or to use excerpts from it in other works. The Assignor may also receive royalties from the Assignee’s use of the work. By their nature, assignments of copyright are legally binding contracts. The document should be written and executed by both parties, who should also retain a copy of the Assignment of Copyright for their records. If the copyright is for a website, the document should also be published on the website in order to make it legally binding. Overall, an Assignment of Copyright is a legally binding document that transfers the copyrights from one person or organization to another. It outlines the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the Assignee, and can include provisions for royalties paid to the Assignor.

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