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Certificate of Authorship
Free certificate of authorship template — a creator certifies they are the original author of a work, often required for copyright registration or IP transfer.
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This free certificate of authorship covers Certification, Originality, Contributions of Others (if applicable), Purpose with 7 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for individuals and small businesses handling a straightforward legal document themselves needing a clear, professional document without commissioning custom legal drafting for a routine situation. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Certificate of Authorship
Work Title: [Title] · Author: [Name] · Date of Creation: [Date] · Date of Certificate: [Date]
Certification
I, [Author Name], certify that I am the sole original author of the work titled "[Work Title]," described as: [Brief description — e.g. musical composition, software code, written work, artwork].
Originality
I certify that this work is my own original creation and does not, to the best of my knowledge, infringe upon the copyright or other intellectual property rights of any third party, except for the following properly licensed/attributed materials, if any: [List, or "none"].
Contributions of Others (if applicable)
[If others contributed, describe their role and whether they have separately assigned or licensed their contribution, or note "sole author, no other contributors."]
Purpose
This certificate is provided in connection with: [e.g. "copyright registration," "assignment of rights to [Company]," "work-for-hire documentation"].
Author signature: ______________________ Date: ____________
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This certificate is commonly requested alongside a copyright registration application or an IP assignment — but registering copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office (or your country's equivalent) is what actually creates the enhanced legal protections, not this certificate alone.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 4 standard sections: Certification, Originality, Contributions of Others (if applicable), Purpose
- 7 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Before involving a lawyer
A solid starting draft to review with counsel, or to use directly for a low-stakes situation.
FAQ
Is this certificate of authorship template really free?
Yes — this Certificate of Authorship template on docstoc is free to view, edit online, and download as a PDF with no account or signup required.
What does this certificate of authorship cover?
This legal template includes Certification, Originality, Contributions of Others (if applicable), Purpose. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. Legal documents are exactly where a generic template is most likely to miss something that matters — the right structure, required disclosures, and even which clauses are enforceable all vary by state and situation. Use this as a starting point for a conversation with a licensed attorney, not a substitute for one.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 7 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free legal and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
More free document templates
- Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
- Demand Letter for Unpaid Invoice
- General Power of Attorney
- One-Way (Unilateral) NDA
- Corporate Bylaws
Five products, one platform
Why use this instead of a generic template
Security
Served over SSL from Cloudflare's edge network — no ad trackers, no third-party scripts on template pages.
Legality
Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
Privacy
No account or signup needed to copy a template — nothing you type here is stored unless you choose to sign up.
Speed
Copy the subject and body directly — no form to fill in, no export step, no waiting on a download link.
Mobile-friendly
Every template page works the same on a phone as a desktop — copy on the go, no app required.
API available
Building your own tool? docstoc's API covers invoices, reminders, and templates directly.