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Annotated agreements

French law · Prepare your case, step by step

Copyright assignment under French law

A French copyright assignment should identify the economic rights transferred and permitted uses, including purpose, territory and duration. Delivering an artwork does not settle all of those issues. This scope builder describes the intended exploitation and questions for review, including remuneration. It does not treat moral rights as freely transferable or assume employment transfers every right.

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READ THE DOCUMENT

Which versions of the work should be identified?

Locate and reconcile these records: Work and relevant versions ; Draft agreement and intended uses ; Author/co-author identities and proposed remuneration. Mark missing or uncertain records explicitly.

  1. Work and relevant versions

    Which rights can an assignment concern?

  2. Draft agreement and intended uses

    How should each permitted use be defined?

  3. Author/co-author identities and proposed remuneration

    Does employment always transfer all rights?

Which versions of the work should be identified?

Locate and reconcile these records: Work and relevant versions ; Draft agreement and intended uses ; Author/co-author identities and proposed remuneration. Mark missing or uncertain records explicitly.

  • Work and relevant versions
  • Draft agreement and intended uses
  • Author/co-author identities and proposed remuneration

Which distinctions change the document review?

Copyright assignment under French law · situations to distinguish
SituationPurposeRecord to examine
Delivery of a creationSupply the agreed file or workVersion and service actually delivered
Rights assignmentPermit defined forms of exploitationRights, purpose, territory, duration and remuneration
Source 1Source 2

Which rights can an assignment concern?

An assignment concerns economic rights; the author’s moral rights are not treated as freely transferable property.

Source 1

How should each permitted use be defined?

Each transferred right needs separate identification and a defined scope, purpose, territory and term.

Source 2

Does employment always transfer all rights?

Employment does not create a universal assignment rule: employee software and some public-service works follow special rules.

Source 1
Fictional example · adapt to your facts

How does packaging use change the preparation?

An illustrator created an image for a brochure. The client now wants to print it on packaging, without specifying territory or duration.

The resulting sheet
Document
Work and relevant versions
Question
How should each permitted use be defined?
Next check
Describe the new use separately from the original delivery and list the limits still to be agreed.

Describe the new use separately from the original delivery and list the limits still to be agreed.

01 / Prepare my file

How can I prepare my document review?

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Your starting documents
The point to check

An assignment concerns economic rights; the author’s moral rights are not treated as freely transferable property. Record the relevant passage and any missing information.

JULIE / QUESTIONS

What should I know before acting?

Which rights can an assignment concern?

An assignment concerns economic rights; the author’s moral rights are not treated as freely transferable property.

Source 1

How should each permitted use be defined?

Each transferred right needs separate identification and a defined scope, purpose, territory and term.

Source 2

Does employment always transfer all rights?

Employment does not create a universal assignment rule: employee software and some public-service works follow special rules.

Source 1

Which versions of the work should be identified?

Locate and reconcile these records: Work and relevant versions ; Draft agreement and intended uses ; Author/co-author identities and proposed remuneration. Mark missing or uncertain records explicitly.

Source 1Source 2

How does packaging use change the preparation?

Fictional example. An illustrator created an image for a brochure. The client now wants to print it on packaging, without specifying territory or duration. Describe the new use separately from the original delivery and list the limits still to be agreed.

Why review remuneration and exceptions?

Avoid these shortcuts: Using an undefined all-rights/all-uses clause ; Equating delivery of a file with transfer of copyright.

Source 1Source 2

What belongs in the intended-use sheet?

The organiser retains the selected issue, available records and your notes. It submits nothing to an authority and makes no legal eligibility decision. Describe the new use separately from the original delivery and list the limits still to be agreed.

How can the proposed uses be explained to Julie?

Julie can explain the cited French-law sources and help examine the selected document issue. Bring this specific question: How should each permitted use be defined? Keep uncertain facts marked and obtain professional review of consequential decisions.

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Continue with Julie: sourced questions, document analysis and assisted drafting.

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French law only. Sources consulted on 21 September 2026.

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General information about French law. This organiser does not file or send an application. Have consequential choices checked by the relevant professional.