Work Made for Hire Agreement
A work made for hire agreement is a contract establishing that work created by a contractor for a hiring party will be owned by the hiring party from the moment it is created, with a backup assignment clause if work-for-hire status does not apply. Use this before or during a freelance or contractor engagement to establish, in advance, that any work the contractor creates as part of the project will belong to the hiring company as a work made for hire — with a backup assignment clause in case work-for-hire status doesn't apply under law. This is different from a copyright assignment, which transfers rights to a work that already exists.
What's included
A ready-to-use work made for hire agreement with signature fields already placed for Company and Creator. Fill in the bracketed details (like [Company Name] or [Date]) using Docracy's built-in text editor, then send it out for signature.
This is a general template for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney to review it for your specific situation and jurisdiction before use.
Key clauses
- Description of the work or deliverables covered
- Work-made-for-hire designation
- Backup assignment of rights if work-for-hire status is unavailable
- Contractor's waiver of moral rights, where applicable
- Compensation for the work
- Warranties that the work is original and non-infringing
What you'll fill in
[Hiring Company Name][Contractor Name][Description of Work/Deliverables][Project Start Date][Compensation Amount][Payment Schedule][Effective Date]Legal summary
Signing this agreement establishes upfront that the hiring company, not the contractor, owns the work created under the engagement as soon as it is made. If the work doesn't legally qualify as a work made for hire, the agreement's backup clause assigns the contractor's rights to the hiring company instead, so ownership does not depend on that classification alone.
Free for up to 2 signers, no account required. Need unlimited? Flat $10/month.
FAQ
Is this Work Made for Hire Agreement legally binding?
Signing through Docracy uses a simple electronic signature (SES), which is legally recognized for everyday business agreements under laws like the U.S. ESIGN Act and the EU's eIDAS regulation. This is a general template, not legal advice — for high-stakes or regulated agreements, have a qualified attorney review it for your situation.
Who needs to sign this Work Made for Hire Agreement?
This template includes signature fields for Company and Creator — already placed, so you just fill in the details and send.
Can I edit this Work Made for Hire Agreement before sending it?
Yes — Docracy's editor lets you edit the text, add or remove signature fields, redact sections, and reorder pages before you send it.
Do I need an account to send this Work Made for Hire Agreement?
No — it's free for up to 2 signers with no account required. Create a free account only if you want to save it to a dashboard or reuse it later.
Try it with an AI assistant
Paste one of these into ChatGPT, Claude, or your assistant of choice:
“Generate a filled Work Made for Hire Agreement for a freelance illustrator creating artwork for a company.”
“Explain the difference between a work made for hire agreement and a copyright assignment.”
“Adapt this Work Made for Hire Agreement for a software developer building a custom app.”
Why teams start with Docracy
“Docracy is a great product that I have tested and am using. It is easy to use, has good tools, is always up to date, and implements new features. Highly recommended.”— DACH Advisory
Free for up to 2 signers, no account required. Need unlimited? Flat $10/month.