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Work for Hire Agreement
Free work for hire agreement template — confirms that a company (not the creator) owns work created by a freelancer or contractor.
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This free work for hire agreement covers 1. Work for Hire, 2. Assignment (backup provision), 3. Moral Rights Waiver, 4. Payment, 5. Creator's Warranty 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.
Work for Hire Agreement
Hiring Party: [Company/Individual Name] Creator: [Name] Project: [Description] Date: [Date]
1. Work for Hire
Creator agrees that the work product created under this Agreement (the "Work") is a "work made for hire" as defined under applicable copyright law, and that Hiring Party is the sole owner of all rights in the Work.
2. Assignment (backup provision)
To the extent the Work is found not to qualify as a work for hire, Creator hereby assigns all right, title, and interest in the Work to Hiring Party, effective upon creation.
3. Moral Rights Waiver
[Where legally possible: "Creator waives any moral rights in the Work, including the right of attribution."]
4. Payment
Hiring Party will pay Creator [Amount/Rate], due [Payment terms], in exchange for the rights granted above.
5. Creator's Warranty
Creator warrants the Work is original and does not infringe any third party's rights.
6. Pre-Existing Materials
[If Creator is incorporating any of their own pre-existing tools/materials into the Work, list them and clarify Creator retains ownership of those specifically.]
7. Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of [State/Country].
Hiring Party: ______________________ Date: ____________ Creator: ______________________ Date: ____________
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Not everything legally qualifies as a "work made for hire" under US copyright law (it depends on the type of work and relationship) — the assignment clause in Section 2 is there specifically as a backup for that reason. Have a licensed IP attorney review for anything high-value.*
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
- 7 standard sections: 1. Work for Hire, 2. Assignment (backup provision), 3. Moral Rights Waiver, 4. Payment, 5. Creator's Warranty, 6. Pre-Existing Materials, …
- 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 work for hire agreement template really free?
Yes — this Work for Hire Agreement template on docstoc is free to view, edit online, and download as a PDF with no account or signup required.
What does this work for hire agreement cover?
This legal template includes 1. Work for Hire, 2. Assignment (backup provision), 3. Moral Rights Waiver, 4. Payment. 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
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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.