Originally Posted by jsmih

Be aware that there are very strict rules as to what activities can be considered as work for hire with respect to copyright. See:

www . copyright . gov / circs/circ09.pdf

If the work is created by an independent contractor or freelancer, the work may be considered a work for hirehaonlyhaif all of the following conditions are met:

the work must come within one of the nine limited categories of works listed in the definition above, namely (1) a contribution to a collective work, (2) a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, (3) a translation, (4) a supplementary work, (5) a compilation, (6) an instructional text, (7) a test, (8) answer material for a test, (9) an atlas;

the work must be specially ordered or commissioned;there must be a written agreement between the parties specifying that the work is a work made for hire by use of the phrase "work for hire" or "work made for hire."