Re: What happened to Howard Rogers ?

[Wolfgang Breitling]

There are laws that are in effect without you having to sign papers.
I'm no lawyer and I do understand that just because it appears on some 
website a statement isn't necessarily true ( we all should be very well 
aware of that with all the advice about hit ratios and extent fragmentation 
on myriads of websites ), but here are two excerpts:

Source: http://copylaw.com/new_articles/wfh.html

B. Works Created by Traditional Employees

A work created by an "employee" within the scope of his or her employment 
is automatically considered a work for hire. These works do not have to 
fall into one of the nine narrow statutory categories of works for hire and 
no written agreement is required. Typically, "work for hire" situations 
involve independent contracts, not employee-employer situations

C. Independent Contractor of Employee?

The term "employee" is a legal term of art without precise definition. 
However, a worker is most likely to be classified as an employee if the 
person who employs her has the legal right to control the "method and 
result" of her work; provides her with tools; pays her on a daily, weekly 
or monthly basis; and can fire her. The IRS use a 20-part test, applicable 
for copyright purposes, to distinguish between employees and independent 
contractors.

Unlike specially commissioned works, for works where a traditional 
employee-employer relationship exists, no work for hire agreement is 
needed. However to avoid any ambiguity, it�s a good idea to include a 
well-drafted statement in the employment agreement acknowledging that any 
work created in the scope of employment will be considered a work for hire. 
The employment agreement can also include non-competition and 
non-disclosure provisions to protect your business's trade secrets.