Q: How do I sign up for copyright if I bought a copyrightable work on fiverr?
Hi I’m intending on creating a book and other copyrightable works on fiverr. I would be the buyer but I want to make sure I have all the rights to the works I am buying. How do I do that? Especially on the copyright.gov website?
A:
This is a very important question. You always want to make sure when you buy something on Fiverr that you own the exclusive rights to the intellectual property created, and that the creator retains no interest in any projects done on your behalf. I have used Fiverr quite a bit and I will say it has usually been a good experience, but there are some real flakes as well, and I am sure there are people who will create something for you, then feeling they have the right to the content, will then treat it as if it is their own. For example, create and deliver you the work you paid for, then also mint it as an NDT (for example to sell on OpenSea.io - which I am not a fan of).
This makes it essential to make sure you get your agreement in writing. As a copyright lawyer myself, I will usually confirm the copyright aspects of the project BEFORE I will agree to move forward. Moreover, since I am in the United States, I also want to hire a creator in my own state (or at a minimum in the U.S.) so that if there is any breach of contract or copyright infringement I have recourse, and can take legal action if need be. This may sound over-the-top and some creators may not like it, but if your IP is important to you - as it is to me - this is certainly something to discuss with IP counsel. Great question - see you at the top! Attorney Steve®
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