Copyright Transfer
Any or all of the copyright ownerĄŻs exclusive rights or any subdivision of those rights may be transferred, but the transfer of exclusive rights is not valid unless that copyright transfer is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed or such ownerĄŻs duly authorized agent. Transfer of a right on a nonexclusive basis does not require a written agreement.
A copyright may also be conveyed by operation of law and may be bequeathed by will or pass as personal property by the applicable laws of intestate succession.
Copyright is a personal property right, and it is subject to the various state laws and regulations that govern the ownership, inheritance, or transfer of personal property as well as terms of contracts or conduct of business. For information about relevant state laws, consult an attorney.
Copyright transfer is normally made by contract. The Copyright Office does not have any forms for such transfers. The law does provide for the recordation in the Copyright Office of copyright transfers of ownership. Although recordation is not required to make a valid transfer between the parties, it does provide certain legal advantages and may be required to validate the copyright transfer as against third parties. For information on recordation of copyright transfers and other documents related to copyright, request recordation of transfers and other documents.