1

I have a contract of employment for a new job, with the following clause.

15.6. You agree to permanently waive all moral rights (if any) conferred by Chapter IV of Part I of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 for any work to which this clause applies.

The part mentioned: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/part/I/chapter/IV

The part referred to (as I understand it) is to do with the right of a creator to be recognised as such, but I'm not sure I fully understand it. Is the clause there so the company can claim to be the creator of any works I create while there?

Edit

Note, this contract is for an engineering job. The specific clause in the contract looks to relate more to artistic works which is why I am unsure of its true meaning.

1 Answer 1

1

First off, since you are an employee the company is the owner of any copyright material you create under the work for hire principle.

Moral rights belong to the individual and include (among other things) a right to be attributed as the author. They can be transferred by contract as your employer is requiring. For engineering/architectural firms this is standard practice to do this as it is unworkable to identify every engineer and draftsperson who worked on every drawing/specification.

1
  • Ahh I see. I thought it would be a standard thing, but I'd never seen the term 'wave moral rights' before.
    – MikeS159
    Sep 4, 2016 at 22:52

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .