: American copyright law states that if you work for a company (not on a contractor/freelance basis, but as a registered employee of that company), anything you create while working at your job,

American copyright law states that if you work for a company (not on a contractor/freelance basis, but as a registered employee of that company), anything you create while working at your job, during your hours, is owned by your employer, be that the company or a specific person in the hierarchy.

Anything you make on your own time, off hours, is owned by you. Unless you give away those rights, either in a contract you signed with your employer, another person, or any entity that isn't yourself (well, technically you can sign over the copyright to yourself, but that's a little odd).

The on your own time thing above is the same as being a contractor/freelance working for another entity. Anything you make is owned by you, unless you signed away your rights (generally though contract).

fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter0/0-c.html - source for above

On a slightly related note, that whole site, fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/, is a really good resource for information on American copyright law.

Please note that I am not a lawyer, I do not have a law degree, and only know that which I have studied, so don't take this as sound legal advice, and consult with an actual lawyer should you need it.

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