What does “Work for hire” mean?

Simply paying someone to help you create your copyrights does not create a "work for hire" situation or prevent that person from claiming ownership of the copyrights. A "work for hire" situation should require a work for hire agreement.

The U.S. Copyright Act defines “work for hire” as:

1. A work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or
2. A work specially ordered or commissioned for use as:
• A contribution to a collective work.
• A part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work.
• A translation.
• A supplementary work.
• A compilation.
• An instructional text.
• A test.
• Answer material for a test.
• An atlas if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument signed by them that the work shall be considered a work made for hire.