How to secure the rights to the code written by a hired specialist?

Question

Copyright

Let's say there is a nascent startup. In what form should a programmer be hired so that the relationship consists only in writing a certain amount of code and my payment for his work? Those. so that he does not have any legal “ground” for claims for some other money, except for the money received on the assignment?
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Brilliantly worded question. Bravo! There were so many copyright-srachas, as soon as they didn’t pour shit on the copyright law, but no one has yet formulated it so briefly and succinctly.

Answer 2

Статья 1295. Служебное произведение
1. Авторские права на произведение науки, литературы или искусства, созданное в пределах установленных для работника (автора) трудовых обязанностей (служебное произведение), принадлежат автору.
2. Исключительное право на служебное произведение принадлежит работодателю, если трудовым или иным договором между работодателем и автором не предусмотрено иное.
Если работодатель в течение трех лет со дня, когда служебное произведение было предоставлено в его распоряжение, не начнет использование этого произведения, не передаст исключительное право на него другому лицу или не сообщит автору о сохранении произведения в тайне, исключительное право на служебное произведение принадлежит автору.
Если работодатель в срок, предусмотренный в абзаце втором настоящего пункта, начнет использование служебного произведения или передаст исключительное право другому лицу, автор имеет право на вознаграждение. Автор приобретает указанное право на вознаграждение и в случае, когда работодатель принял решение о сохранении служебного произведения в тайне и по этой причине не начал использование этого произведения в указанный срок. Размер вознаграждения, условия и порядок его выплаты работодателем определяются договором между ним и работником, а в случае спора - судом.

Based on this, in addition to the employment contract, you need to conclude (or mention in the employment contract) an agreement on the amount of the author's remuneration (in fact, a bonus for the delivery of the project :)). It will not be superfluous to mention that the exclusive rights belong to you. Well, in the process of work, issue tasks to the employee in such a way (under signature, for example), so that later he could not say that he did not receive such a task, but sat coding during working hours, because you did not download it. Well, start using it within three years, or tell him that you are going to keep the program secret.
Plus, another nuance is for software - the task should be to create a program, and not to perform work. Roughly speaking, the task should be to create a website engine , and not to create a website. But even in this case, the author retains the right to use the program for his own purposes (I find it difficult to say whether he can open a project competing with you), therefore it is better that he explicitly refuse this right in the contract.

Answer 3

We need a contract, job description and terms of reference. All code written for the work assignment is the property of the employer.

Answer 4

Copyright always by default remains with the author. The rights of use and resale belong to the customer. Recently, many people recommend that a separate clause about royalties be drawn up in the contract, but in reality I have never seen anyone do this. Formally, if there is no evidence of receipt of royalties, it can be recovered in court.

Answer 5

Labor contract?