614.1 (B) Identifying the Author of a Work Made for Hire
When completing an application the employer or the party that ordered or commissioned the work should be named as the author (rather than the individual who actually created the work). In other words, if the work was created by an employee acting within the scope of his or her employment, the employer should be identified as the author (not the employee). If the work was specially ordered or commissioned as a work made for hire, the person or organization that ordered or commissioned the work should be listed as the author (rather than the individual who actually created the work). See 17 U.S.C. § 201 (B).
If the employer or the party who ordered or commissioned the work is an individual, the applicant should enter that individual’s first and last name in the field marked Individual Author. If the employer or the party that ordered or commissioned the work is an organization, the applicant should provide the full name of that organization in the field marked Organization Name. In both cases, the applicant should choose “yes” in response to the question “Is this author’s contribution a work made for hire?”
NOTE: If an organization is named as the author of the work, the box marked “Is this author’s contribution a work made for hire?” must be checked “yes.” If the applicant provides the name of an organization and checks the “no” box, the application will not be accepted by the electronic registration system.
When completing a paper application, the applicant should list the name of the employer or the party that ordered or commissioned the work on line 2 (A) of the application in the space marked Name of Author. Additionally, the applicant should choose “yes” in response to the question “Is this author’s contribution a work made for hire?”