Why it matters
Without a written assignment, a freelancer can keep the copyright in work you paid for. That matters when you sell your channel, license content to a brand, or a former editor objects to how you use their cut.
How it usually reads
Upon full payment, Contractor assigns to Creator all rights in the deliverables.
What fair looks like
- Ownership moves to you once the work is paid for.
- Your raw footage and materials always stay yours.
- The freelancer can show the work in a portfolio after it is published.
- Clear treatment of the freelancer’s pre-existing templates, presets and tools.
Red flags
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Contractor retains all rights
You pay for work you do not own.
Common questions
Is work for hire enough?
Not always. Many kinds of freelance work do not qualify as work made for hire under US law, so a written assignment is the safer backup.