Who owns a commissioned product photograph
13 provisions of US and UK copyright law and guidance on who owns a photograph, each quoted from the statute or the authority's own page, read 28 October 2026.
Whose law it is
What the provision settles
The rule, in its own words
Every answer from every provision
Every row is a single provision, and every answer expands to the wording it was taken from, the page it came from and when it was read. "Not stated" is used when the page says nothing on the point.
| Provision | Whose law it is | What the provision settles | The rule, in its own words |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 U.S.C. 101, commissioned works (Cornell LII copy) | the United States | when the employer or commissioner owns it from the start | (2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a |
| 17 U.S.C. 101, definition of a work made for hire | the United States | when the employer or commissioner owns it from the start | (1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or |
| 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership | the United States | who is the author and first owner | Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors… |
| 17 U.S.C. 201(b), works made for hire | the United States | when the employer or commissioner owns it from the start | unless the parties have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by… |
| 17 U.S.C. 204(a), transfers in writing | the United States | what form a transfer of ownership must take | A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an… |
| CDPA 1988 s.11(2), employees' works | the United Kingdom | when the employer or commissioner owns it from the start | is made by an employee in the course of his employment, his employer is the first owner… |
| CDPA 1988 s.4, photographs as artistic works | the United Kingdom | that a photograph is protected | “photograph” means a recording of light or other radiation on any medium on which an… |
| CDPA 1988 s.9, the author | the United Kingdom | who is the author and first owner | In this Part “author”, in relation to a work, means the person who creates it. |
| CDPA 1988 s.90(3), assignment in writing | the United Kingdom | what form a transfer of ownership must take | An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on… |
| CDPA 1988 s.91, future copyright | the United Kingdom | what form a transfer of ownership must take | Where by an agreement made in relation to future copyright, and signed by or on behalf of… |
| Circular 30, commissioned works | the United States | when the employer or commissioner owns it from the start | 1. The work must fall within one of the nine categories of works listed above that are… |
| Copyright Office guidance for photographers | the United States | who is the author and first owner | One limited exception to this rule is when a photograph is created as a “work made for… |
| GOV.UK, how copyright protects your work | the United Kingdom | that a photograph is protected | You get copyright protection automatically - you do not have to apply or pay a fee. There… |
Each answer in its source's own words (39 quotes)
- 17 U.S.C. 101, commissioned works (Cornell LII copy), 17 U.S. Code section 101, read 2026-10-03, Whose law it is:
(2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a
- 17 U.S.C. 101, commissioned works (Cornell LII copy), 17 U.S. Code section 101, read 2026-10-03, What the provision settles:
(2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a
- 17 U.S.C. 101, commissioned works (Cornell LII copy), 17 U.S. Code section 101, read 2026-10-03, The rule, in its own words:
(2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a
- 17 U.S.C. 101, definition of a work made for hire, Title 17 chapter 1 (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-27, Whose law it is:
(1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or
- 17 U.S.C. 101, definition of a work made for hire, Title 17 chapter 1 (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-27, What the provision settles:
(1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or
- 17 U.S.C. 101, definition of a work made for hire, Title 17 chapter 1 (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-27, The rule, in its own words:
(1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or
- 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership, 17 U.S. Code section 201, read 2026-10-08, Whose law it is:
Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work.
- 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership, 17 U.S. Code section 201, read 2026-10-08, What the provision settles:
Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work.
- 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership, 17 U.S. Code section 201, read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its own words:
Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work.
- 17 U.S.C. 201(b), works made for hire, Title 17 chapter 2 (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-28, Whose law it is:
In the case of a work made for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared is considered the author for purposes of this title
- 17 U.S.C. 201(b), works made for hire, Title 17 chapter 2 (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-28, What the provision settles:
the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared is considered the author for purposes of this title
- 17 U.S.C. 201(b), works made for hire, Title 17 chapter 2 (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its own words:
unless the parties have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by them, owns all of the rights comprised in the copyright
- 17 U.S.C. 204(a), transfers in writing, 17 U.S. Code section 204, read 2026-10-08, Whose law it is:
A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance
- 17 U.S.C. 204(a), transfers in writing, 17 U.S. Code section 204, read 2026-10-08, What the provision settles:
A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed
- 17 U.S.C. 204(a), transfers in writing, 17 U.S. Code section 204, read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its own words:
A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed or such owner’s duly authorized agent.
- CDPA 1988 s.11(2), employees' works, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 11, read 2026-10-08, Whose law it is:
is made by an employee in the course of his employment, his employer is the first owner of any copyright in the work subject to any agreement to the contrary.
- CDPA 1988 s.11(2), employees' works, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 11, read 2026-10-08, What the provision settles:
is made by an employee in the course of his employment, his employer is the first owner of any copyright in the work subject to any agreement to the contrary.
- CDPA 1988 s.11(2), employees' works, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 11, read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its own words:
is made by an employee in the course of his employment, his employer is the first owner of any copyright in the work subject to any agreement to the contrary.
- CDPA 1988 s.4, photographs as artistic works, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 4, read 2026-10-27, Whose law it is:
a graphic work, photograph, sculpture or collage, irrespective of artistic quality,
- CDPA 1988 s.4, photographs as artistic works, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 4, read 2026-10-27, What the provision settles:
a graphic work, photograph, sculpture or collage, irrespective of artistic quality,
- CDPA 1988 s.4, photographs as artistic works, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 4, read 2026-10-27, The rule, in its own words:
“photograph” means a recording of light or other radiation on any medium on which an image is produced or from which an image may by any means be produced, and which is not part of a film;
- CDPA 1988 s.9, the author, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 9, read 2026-10-08, Whose law it is:
In this Part “author”, in relation to a work, means the person who creates it.
- CDPA 1988 s.9, the author, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 9, read 2026-10-08, What the provision settles:
In this Part “author”, in relation to a work, means the person who creates it.
- CDPA 1988 s.9, the author, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 9, read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its own words:
In this Part “author”, in relation to a work, means the person who creates it.
- CDPA 1988 s.90(3), assignment in writing, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90, read 2026-10-08, Whose law it is:
An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor.
- CDPA 1988 s.90(3), assignment in writing, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90, read 2026-10-08, What the provision settles:
An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor.
- CDPA 1988 s.90(3), assignment in writing, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90, read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its own words:
An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor.
- CDPA 1988 s.91, future copyright, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 91, read 2026-10-28, Whose law it is:
Where by an agreement made in relation to future copyright, and signed by or on behalf of the prospective owner of the copyright
- CDPA 1988 s.91, future copyright, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 91, read 2026-10-28, What the provision settles:
the prospective owner purports to assign the future copyright (wholly or partially) to another person
- CDPA 1988 s.91, future copyright, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 91, read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its own words:
Where by an agreement made in relation to future copyright, and signed by or on behalf of the prospective owner of the copyright, the prospective owner purports to assign the future copyright (wholly or partially) to another person
- Circular 30, commissioned works, Circular 30: works made for hire (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-08, Whose law it is:
A specially ordered or commissioned work is considered a work made for hire if it satisfies all of the
- Circular 30, commissioned works, Circular 30: works made for hire (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-08, What the provision settles:
A specially ordered or commissioned work is considered a work made for hire if it satisfies all of the
- Circular 30, commissioned works, Circular 30: works made for hire (US Copyright Office), read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its own words:
1. The work must fall within one of the nine categories of works listed above that are eligible to
- Copyright Office guidance for photographers, What photographers should know about copyright, read 2026-10-28, Whose law it is:
Generally, the author and initial copyright owner of a photograph is the person who “shoots” or “takes” the photo.
- Copyright Office guidance for photographers, What photographers should know about copyright, read 2026-10-28, What the provision settles:
Generally, the author and initial copyright owner of a photograph is the person who “shoots” or “takes” the photo.
- Copyright Office guidance for photographers, What photographers should know about copyright, read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its own words:
One limited exception to this rule is when a photograph is created as a “work made for hire.”
- GOV.UK, how copyright protects your work, How copyright protects your work (GOV.UK), read 2026-10-28, Whose law it is:
You get copyright protection automatically - you do not have to apply or pay a fee. There is not a register of copyright works in the UK.
- GOV.UK, how copyright protects your work, How copyright protects your work (GOV.UK), read 2026-10-28, What the provision settles:
You get copyright protection automatically - you do not have to apply or pay a fee.
- GOV.UK, how copyright protects your work, How copyright protects your work (GOV.UK), read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its own words:
You get copyright protection automatically - you do not have to apply or pay a fee. There is not a register of copyright works in the UK.
How the figures are worked out
Each provision's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph were read through estate-fetch and stored whole (sha256 on every row).
For every page, three questions were answered from its own words: whose law it is, what the provision settles, the rule, in its own words.
Every stated answer carries the sentence it rests on, checked against the stored text; 'not stated' means the page read does not address the question.
A provision with several pages reads 'varies' where they disagree.
13 provisions, 13 pages.
All 13 sources
- US Copyright Office, Title 17 chapter 2: copyright ownership and transfer (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- US Copyright Office, Title 17 chapter 1: subject matter and scope (s.101 definitions) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- US Copyright Office, Circular 30: works made for hire (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- US Copyright Office, What photographers should know about copyright (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- 17 U.S. Code section 101 (Cornell LII) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- 17 U.S. Code section 201 (Cornell LII) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- 17 U.S. Code section 204 (Cornell LII) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 4 (artistic works) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 9 (authorship) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 11 (first ownership) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90 (assignment and licences) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 91 (prospective ownership) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
- GOV.UK, Copyright: who owns copyright (cited for reporting; the publisher's own statutes and copyright authority pages on who owns a photograph)
Cite it or embed it
13 provisions of US and UK copyright law and guidance on who owns a photograph, each quoted from the statute or the authority's own page, read 28 October 2026.
Whose law it is, by provision: the United States 7 of 13, the United Kingdom 6 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
What the provision settles, by provision: when the employer or commissioner owns it from the start 5 of 13, who is the author and first owner 3 of 13, what form a transfer of ownership must take 3 of 13, that a photograph is protected 2 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
The rule, in its own words, by provision: stated 13 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
Reference: "Who owns a commissioned product photograph", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellproductimagestoai.com/datasets/commissioned-product-photo-ownership/.
Save the CSV (39 answers; derived 2026-10-28)