Work for Hire Agreement Template

This Work for Hire Agreement is made on [Date] by and between:

Client: [Full Name / Company Name]
Address: [Address]

Contractor / Creator: [Full Name / Company Name]
Address: [Address]

1. Services

The Client engages the Contractor to provide the following services:

[Describe services]
[Describe services]
[Describe services]

The Contractor will perform only the services described in this Agreement unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

2. Project and Deliverables

The work to be created under this Agreement includes the following deliverables:

[Describe deliverable]
[Describe deliverable]
[Describe deliverable]

Project name or reference, if applicable: [Project Name / Number]

Delivery schedule, if applicable:

First draft due: [Date]
Final delivery due: [Date]

3. Work Made for Hire Intent

The parties intend that, to the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, the deliverables and all final work product created by the Contractor under this Agreement shall be considered a work made for hire for the Client.

If any work product does not legally qualify as a work made for hire, the ownership terms in Section 4 shall apply.

4. Assignment of Rights

To the extent any deliverable or work product does not qualify as a work made for hire, the Contractor hereby assigns and transfers to the Client all right, title, and interest in and to that work product, including all copyrights and other intellectual property rights, to the extent allowed by law.

This assignment takes effect upon creation of the work product or, if later, upon full payment as stated in this Agreement:

☐ upon creation
☐ upon full payment
☐ as follows: [Describe]

5. Pre-Existing Materials

The Contractor retains ownership of any pre-existing materials, tools, templates, methods, know-how, code, artwork, or other content created before this Agreement that are not uniquely created for the Client under this Agreement.

If any pre-existing materials are included in the deliverables, the Contractor grants the Client the following license to use them:

☐ perpetual license
☐ nonexclusive license
☐ limited license as follows: [Describe]
☐ other: [Describe]

6. Compensation

The Client shall pay the Contractor as follows:

☐ flat fee of [$Amount]
☐ hourly rate of [$Amount] per hour
☐ milestone payments as follows: [Describe]
☐ per-deliverable fee of [$Amount]
☐ other: [Describe]

Payment terms:

☐ deposit of [$Amount] due on signing
☐ payment due upon receipt of invoice
☐ payment due within [Number] days of invoice date
☐ final payment due upon delivery
☐ other: [Describe]

7. Revisions

The following revision terms apply:

☐ [Number] rounds of revisions are included
☐ additional revisions will be billed at [$Amount]
☐ revisions will be handled as follows: [Describe]

Revision requests must be made within [Number] days after delivery, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

8. Contractor Representations

The Contractor represents that:

the work product will be original to the Contractor except for approved third-party or pre-existing materials;
the Contractor has authority to enter into this Agreement;
the work product will not knowingly infringe the rights of another person or company;
the Contractor has the right to assign the work product as stated in this Agreement.

If third-party content, stock materials, open-source materials, or licensed elements will be used, describe them here:

[Insert details]

9. Client Materials

The Client may provide information, branding, specifications, files, or other materials for the project.

The Client remains responsible for materials supplied by the Client and for confirming that the Client has the right to use them for the project.

10. Confidentiality

During this engagement, either party may receive confidential information relating to business plans, customer data, drafts, project details, pricing, systems, or other non-public information.

Each party agrees not to disclose or misuse confidential information except as needed to perform this Agreement or as required by law.

11. Independent Contractor Status

The Contractor is acting as an independent contractor and not as an employee, partner, or agent of the Client unless otherwise stated in writing.

The Contractor is responsible for the Contractor’s own taxes, insurance, staffing, business expenses, and internal operations unless this Agreement states otherwise.

12. Credit and Publicity

Credit shall be handled as follows, if applicable:

☐ no credit required
☐ credit shall be given as follows: [Describe]
☐ Contractor may include the work in portfolio materials after public release
☐ no publicity or portfolio use without Client consent
☐ other: [Describe]

13. Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement:

☐ on [Number] days’ written notice
☐ immediately for material breach
☐ when the project is completed
☐ under the following additional terms: [Describe]

If this Agreement ends early, the Client shall pay for services properly performed and approved costs incurred through the termination date unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Ownership of completed and paid-for work shall be handled as follows:

[Insert terms]

14. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of [State].

15. Entire Agreement

This Agreement contains the full understanding between the parties regarding the services and ownership of the work product described above and replaces prior discussions on the same subject unless otherwise stated in writing.

16. Signatures

Client Signature: __________________________
Name: [Full Name]
Title: [Title, if applicable]
Date: [Date]

Contractor Signature: __________________________
Name: [Full Name]
Title: [Title, if applicable]
Date: [Date]