Copyright Assignment Agreement for a Artwork, is executed between an Assignor (Artist) and Assignee (Sponsor or agent/buyer), whereas Assignor transfers or sells outright, the title, interest and copyright of his copyrighted Artwork as Artwork-made-on hire or otherwise to the assignee for certain amount of money and without any royalty sharing arrangement. Such Agreements are basically in short form.
The assignee after getting the copyrighted ownership of the Artwork becomes the sole owner of the Art and holds the similar rights that were held by the original Artist or copyright holder before the copyright of the Artwork was transferred. The agreement also protects the assignee from future copyright infringement claims from the original Artist. The assignees also enjoy all rights, protections and responsibilities of a copyright holder.
The reason for Artist selling his music to the assignee for financial consideration may be due to Artist not having enough financial resources to exhibit/sale their own Artwork and get sufficient money for their composition. These reasons make it necessary for them to transfer their artistic rights to their client, once the Artwork is completed.
The following Copyright Assignment Agreement for a Artwork template shows the transfers or outright sale of the title, interest and copyright of copyrighted Artwork to the assignee by the Artist, for certain amount of money without any royalty sharing provisions:
Copyright Assignment Agreement
For a Artwork
(In the agreement, Artwork Artist is mentioned as Artist)
Artist:
Address:
1. This is an assignment from the Artist to the__________________, and to _______successors and assigns, of the entire right, title and interest in and to:
1. the copyright to Artist’s contribution (hereafter referred to as the __________-__" and which is more specifically defined below) to the Artwork provisionally titled "____________________" (hereafter, "the Artwork");
2. any registrations and copyright applications, along with any renewals and extensions thereof, relating to the Contribution or the Artwork;
3. all Artworks based upon, derived from, or incorporating the Contribution;
4. all income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to the Contribution or the Artwork;
5. all causes of action, either in law or in equity, for past, present, or future infringement of copyright related to the Artwork, and
6. all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing, throughout the world.
2. The Artist’s Contribution consists of co-Art workmanship of the Artwork. The other co-Art workers are
_____________________, _____________________ & ___________________.
3. This Assignment includes the assignment of all rights, including copyright, to any modifications or other alterations to the Artwork or the Contribution that the Artist makes under this Agreement or any other agreement between the Artist and _____________.
4. The Artist’s signature on this Agreement is the Artist’s representation and warranties that:
a. the Artist is the sole author and sole proprietor of all rights in and to the Contribution;
b. the Contribution is original and contains no material from other copyrighted or unpublished Artworks unless it is used with the written consent of the copyright owner and of the owner of any other right(s) to or in such other Artworks;
c. the Contribution does not violate or infringe any personal or property rights of others, whether common law or statutory
d. the Contribution contains nothing libelous or contrary to law; and
e. the Artist has full power and authority to enter this Agreement.
5. In consideration for the Artist’s assignment of rights in this Agreement, ____will provide appropriate attribution (the form of which is in _____’s sole discretion) for the Artist’s creation of the Contribution if and when the Artwork is distributed or sold.
6. In addition, to the extent any applicable law or treaty prohibits the transfer or assignment of any moral rights or rights of restraint the Artist has in the Artwork or the Contribution, the Artist waives those rights as to __________, its successors, licensees or assigns.
READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT CAREFULLY; IT IS A RELEASE AND ASSIGNMENT OF YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
ARTIST
Signature______________________________
Printed Name______________________________
Date______________________________
WITNESS
Signature______________________________
Printed Name______________________________
Date______________________________