Q: Who owns copyright for single member LLC?
I am a single-member owner of an LLC. I have a website for my company in which I created all of the blogs for. I submitted a group of published short literary works copyright application and I listed myself as the author but said the claimant is my LLC and that I was transferring the rights to the LLC. The copyright office is telling me that my LLC owns the copyright from the beginning, not me, and it's considered a "work for hire", which this application wouldn't apply to. But I read online that single member LLC's are not considered employees and therefore it wouldn't be a work for hire. Which is true?
A:
Probably both.
For beginners you need to consult with an attorney.
In general if you are granting your rights to a company, whether you own or not, it is the company the owner then.
An LLC can be a pass through entity for tax purposes, but can be an independent entity for other purposes, such as liability and more.
1 user found this answer helpful
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
