Any rights to the Short Story I wrote as an essaywriter?

Question

Writing comes easy to me so I signed up to work as an essaywriter for a couple bucks--I mean literally, a couple bucks.

Anyhow, one of the writings I completed 100% of is now popular with the customer's name as the writer. Although the customer purchased the writing, ($4 a page) none of the input was theirs, 100% of the writing was mine, do I have any legal rights whatsoever?

Just the fact that the awarded writer didn't write it would to me seem someone would have some recourse? Would the publisher have recourse if they found it was me not the credited writer who actually wrote the piece?

Answer 1

Read your contract. If no written contract, the work is yours.

This is literally "Copyright 101", as the definition of "work made for hire" is at 17 USC 101, in US law.

If you were an independent contractor, then it is clearly not a work for hire (with very limited exceptions that do not apply unless you also agree in writing), but rather YOUR work, and the only way you can transfer ownership of your copyright is by another signed writing that clearly expresses your intent to do so. Just selling a copy (or original) of something has NOTHING to do with who owns the copyright, even if the work was specifically commissioned (e.g., wedding photos).

Regardless of whether you transfer the ownership of the copyright, it is also "plagiarism" for anyone to claim it as his own work, and this is a serious violation in some organizations. In the USA it is also a federal felony to tamper with copyright identification information, under DMCA, including identification of the author.

Answer 2

When you write something, you have automatic copyright, (in the UK at least). Your case depends on whether you sold the copyright. Many celebrities etc have biographies that are written by a ghostwriter, but it's their name that sells the book. Any deal on the rights would have been worked out beforehand. I suggest you seek legal advice.

Answer 3

you can still prove you wrote it?
Then, even tho they have money rights to it, maybe you can still use it in your Resume.

I wonder if , next time, you can "Share Rights"?

Congrats on getting a ThumbsUp in the MainStream, Even if most of the world doesn't know it was You, YOU know it's You.
That got to be a great Ego Boost ,and definitely Validification that You're on the right track and should keep at it.

Peace,
~Laurie

Answer 4

When you sold the work for $4/page you sold the rights.

Answer 5

agreed. It was a work-for-hire. You retain nothing.