Re: Recent Amendment re: Software as Work Made for Hire?

From: William T. McGrath <WMcGrath[_at_]DMMLaw.com>
Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2000 14:14:54 -0600

On Fri, 28 Jan 2000, Greg Erkins <gerkins[_at_]gci.net> wrote:
>
> On Thu, Jan 27, 2000, Michael Reddy <mreddy[_at_]lrlaw.com> wrote:
> >
> > An attorney at the firm thought she had seen that there was a recently
> > enacted amendment dealing with software as a work made for hire. I
> > haven't been able to locate anything on Thomas. Is anyone on the list
> > familiar with this amendment?
> >
> > Please reply to me off list. Thanks.
>
> Could someone reply to this on list if they know. I would be quite
> curious.

In late November, Pres. Clinton signed an omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 3194) which included an amendment to the definition of works made for hire. It added "sound recordings" to the list of categories of specially commissioned works which can become works made for hire if there is a signed agreement by the parties. My understanding is that there was some consideration of also adding "computer programs", but that programs were not included in the final bill.

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William T. McGrath
Davis, Mannix & McGrath
125 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60606-4402
Phone: 312-332-4748
Fax: 312-332-6376
<wmcgrath[_at_]dmmlaw.com> Received on Tue Feb 01 2000 - 20:16:30 GMT