You paid the freelancer. Do you own the copyright?

Start with the default ownership position

The IPO explains that a self-employed creator will usually retain copyright unless the agreement provides otherwise. Commissioning a website, brand design or article therefore does not by itself establish ownership of all rights. An implied licence may exist in some circumstances, but its scope can become contentious.

Distinguish copyright from physical or digital possession. Receiving a file does not necessarily permit modification, resale, sublicensing or reuse in a different campaign. A company also needs to know whether the contractor is an individual creator or a business relying on employees and subcontractors.

Write for the intended use

Specify deliverables, background materials, third-party components and the rights granted. For an assignment, satisfy the signed-writing requirements of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. If a licence is sufficient, address duration, territory, exclusivity, modification, sublicensing and transfer to a buyer.

Example: A designer uses a stock photograph and a commercial font in a brand package. The designer may own the original layout but cannot give the client unrestricted ownership of those third-party assets. The client needs the relevant licences and enough information to use the finished material lawfully across the intended channels.

Connect rights to delivery and payment

Clarify when rights take effect and what happens if the project is cancelled or part of the fee is disputed. Include delivery of editable source files where needed. Require the contractor to secure appropriate rights from collaborators rather than merely promising that the work is original.

Before launch, check that all required materials and permissions have been delivered. A late confirmatory assignment may solve some gaps, but it can be difficult if the creator is unavailable or the relationship has deteriorated. Contractor status and tax questions, including off-payroll rules where relevant, are separate from copyright ownership and should not be inferred from the IP clause.

Your next steps

1. Decide whether ownership or a sufficiently broad licence is the commercial objective.
2. Identify background, stock and subcontractor materials before final payment.
3. Obtain signed rights documentation and the editable files needed for future changes.