author
Sign in to saveIn legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is called authorship, which means a sculptor, painter, or composer is considered the author of their respective sculptures, paintings, or musical compositions. Although in common usage, the term "author" is often associated specifically with the writer of a book, article, play, or other written work. In cases involving a work for hire, the employer or commissioning party is legally considered the author
AI overview
An author is the creator of an original work—such as a book, painting, sculpture, or musical composition—that has been published or made public. The term matters legally because it determines who owns the rights to a creative work, though this can shift in cases where someone is hired to create something on behalf of an employer or client.
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Article
10 sectionsContents
- Legal significance of authorship
- Philosophical views of the nature of authorship
- Relationship with publisher
- Self-publishing
- Traditional publishing
- Vanity publishing
- Relationship with editor
- Compensation
- See also
- References
In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is called authorship, which means a sculptor, painter, or composer is considered the author of their respective sculptures, paintings, or musical compositions. Although in common usage, the term "author" is often associated specifically with the writer of a book, article, play, or other written work. In cases involving a work for hire, the employer or commissioning party is legally considered the author of the work, even if it was created by someone else.
Typically, the first owner of a copyright is the creator of the copyrighted work, i.e., the author. If more than one person created the work, then joint authorship has taken place. Copyright law differs around the world. The United States Copyright Office, for example, defines copyright as "a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to authors of 'original works of authorship.