Can a client legally claim full ownership of custom software code I write as a freelance developer if we never signed a formal work-for-hire agreement before starting the project?
Download run
Fan-out diagram
The searches the AI actually ran for this prompt.
SEED QUERY
Can a client legally claim full ownership of custom software code I write as a freelance developer if we never signed a formal work-for-hire agreement before starting the project?
2 real searches · 1 real-search pass
United States Copyright Act 17 USC 101 work made for hire commissioned software 204 transfer copyright signed writing independent contractorGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDReason
U.S. Copyright Office circular works made for hire commissioned works written agreement copyright transfer section 204(a) softwareGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDOther / navigational
Badge and edge weight = share of passes that produced the query. Hover a query for its intent and routing format.
Query classes
Google's semantic query class for every sub-query: what kind of answer each search is after, simulated vs real.
ChatGPT real searches (2)
Classes come from the query-classifier (a local Laya model). 2 of 2 calls are low-confidence (under 50%) — hover a query in the table to see its confidence.
Searches and sources
ChatGPT2 real searches · gpt-6
United States Copyright Act 17 USC 101 work made for hire commissioned software 204 transfer copyright signed writing independent contractor Google ↗
U.S. Copyright Office circular works made for hire commissioned works written agreement copyright transfer section 204(a) software Google ↗
- 17 U.S.C. § 201 · law.cornell.edu
- 17 U.S.C. § 204 · law.cornell.edu
- Chapter 2 - Circular 92 · copyright.gov
- 17 U.S. Code § 101 - Definitions | U.S. Code | US Law · law.cornell.edu
Queries
2 queries · click a column to sort
| Query / type | Search | Intent | Query class | Routing format | Cluster | Freq ↓ | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States Copyright Act 17 USC 101 work made for hire commissioned software 204 transfer copyright signed writing independent contractor OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Reason | — | — | 1x of 1 | |
U.S. Copyright Office circular works made for hire commissioned works written agreement copyright transfer section 204(a) software OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Other / navigational | — | — | 1x of 1 |