copyright contract-law
Waiving moral rights to Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
<p>I have a contract of employment for a new job, with the following clause.</p>

<p><em>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.</em></p>

<p>The part mentioned: <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/part/I/chapter/IV" rel="nofollow">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/part/I/chapter/IV</a></p>

<p>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?</p>

<p><strong>Edit</strong></p>

<p>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.</p>

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

<p>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.</p>
