With more people joining the ranks of the gig economy, we also need to discuss Intellectual Property (IP) and methods to protect your work when working with commercial clients from all over the world.
But why is IP important as a freelancer? After all, most of us sell our skills online, so it’s not like you get to keep the rights of your creation.
It’s true that most freelancers, be it designers, writers, video creators, and others will use their skills to create content for their customers. However, some customers will always take advantage of that gray area. The gray area is revealed most often when looking for customers or business partners or when enrolling in contests.
In these situations, you usually send a copy of your portfolio or a sample of your work so the customer can assess your style. Plus, if you participate in a creativity contest (like the ones freelancing platforms usually organize), there are people who will take advantage of your work and use it for free (even if you’re not the winner).
In these situations, the ones who steal your ideas, designs, or other forms of creativity already have the budget and structure to implement the project. So, before you even know about it, your creativity will be put to good use without even including you in the process.
How to Protect your IP Rights as a Freelancer
The best way you can make sure your rights are protected is to ask help from a specialized law company, like Heer Law. Sure, it will be an additional cost, but it will prove extremely beneficial in the long term.
A lawyer specialized in IP protection law can help you draft a contract that considers both your rights and the rights of the customer. For instance, here are a few questions you should consider before signing any type of contract:
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Do you give away your rights of ownership on your work for good?
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Do you want to be mentioned as the author when they publish your creations for them?
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If the client is the owner, can they use your work in their future projects without sending you a notification?
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When is the transfer of ownership happen – the moment you signed the contract or after you get paid?
Side note: As a creator, it’s perfectly normal to give up on your rights of ownership as the author. However, you must make sure you are compensated fairly. Keep in mind that a company logo, that costs around $30 to $50, may become a worldwide recognizable symbol (think Nike) without anyone knowing you are the creator.
Copyright Protects Both Sides
Copyright is inherently assigned to the author of original work, but it helps to have some additional protection. This comes from filing for copyright with the local authorities (it’s best to discuss the process with a lawyer).
This way, when you sell your work online, you (the freelancer) will be protected by copyright laws in your country or region. Also, the customer who buys your work and the right to use it also gets the reassurance you won’t sell the same thing to other customers. True, it may be a bit more expensive, but it’s also a safer way of doing business online.
Key Takeaways
IP is one of the main currencies of our world, so it’s a good idea to be protective about your work. This way, if you want to make money as a blogger who writes articles on a personal blog, you have an added layer of protection by copywriting your platform. Keep in mind that everything that’s worth stealing/copying online, will probably be at one point or another.
