author

For the purposes of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 UK, an author is the natural person (i.e. not a corporated entity ) who creates a copyright work. The general rule is that the person who first reduced an idea to a material or recorded form is the first owner of copyright, however that is not always the case. The general rule may be upset by (1) the author being employed - in this case the employer is usually the first owner of copyright, and (2) an agreement by the author with either his employer (if employed) or a third party. In this way, an author is not necessarily the first owner of copyright.

Legal disputes in respect to who is the first owner of copyright are in some cases complicated, as Equity may play a part in the determination of the question of first ownership. Simply because a company has engaged another company to produce a copyright work does not necessarily mean that it is the first owner of copyright.

Usage: The author of the computer software was employed to develop it during the course of his employment.

Related Words: copyright; first owner of copyright; literary work; artistic work; musical work; Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 UK.