How Much Should I Charge to Build an iPhone App AND Release Copyright

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How Much Should I Charge to Build an iPhone App AND Release Copyright

Does anyone have any thoughts on how much to charge for release copyright on an iPhone app I'm building for a client? I have a reasonable idea of how much I should charge for the app development, but I never release copyright on anything I do for clients.

Thanks!

+1 A:

not sure what country you are in... but generally in the United States, the people paying you to work on the project will ask you to sign an agreement that the product you make is a "work for hire". In that case, they would own the copyright. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Work_for_hire

Can you tell us more about the nature of the project? I can't imagine many companies not having a contractor sign a work for hire agreement -- that is what they are paying for.

NinjaCat 2010-07-23 20:30:52

Agreed. It's the same if you work for a corporation in most cases.

iWasRobbed 2010-07-23 20:34:13

I used to own a part of a company that did general consulting work for clients, and I completely agree with NinjaCat. The situation you describe is the typical situation. Unless they are signing a licensing agreement with YOU, and that is what they are paying for, then by default they own the copyright. In the area I live, general consulting rates for such a project vary from $50 - $125 / hr. depending on the complexity of the project and the specialty required from the development firm.

Steve 2010-07-23 20:36:50

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm familiar with work for hire in general, but what I'm saying is I never sign those agreements. It's not the way I do business, and fortunately I'm in a position where I get to dictate that, not the other way around.I'll be honest, though, I am a little unfamiliar with the default laws that would apply. You're saying that they own copyright by default? I know, for example, graphic design and photography is owned by the creator, even if created for a client. Why would my code be any different?

Josh Hudnall 2010-07-25 03:28:39

In fact, my contracts all state that we retain copyright on everything we create.

Josh Hudnall 2010-07-25 03:30:56

Perhaps I wasn't clear, so I apologize.By default, the author owns the copyright. Whether you are an artist or programmer.Some companies (my experience, most), will ask me to sign an agreement that says that the work I do is a work for hire. Just like if you work at a full time position anything you do there is owned by the company.The key to this is that if a company wants to have it be a work made for hire, they have to get you to agree before work begins.

NinjaCat 2010-07-25 08:34:48

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How Much Should I Charge to Build an iPhone App AND Release Copyright

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