Cinema Law: Who Owns the Footage I Shot?

By Randy Whatoff
URL: http://www.moviemaker.com/blog/item/cinema_law_who_owns_the_footage_i_shot_20090819/
Q: I have an issue with a large client that has never asked me to sign any agreement or contract. A little while back, they asked me for a year’s worth of B roll footage I shot for them. I eventually gave it to the client because I thought it was covered under the “work for hire” doctrine. Now I don’t think that is true. Can I deny them if they request footage in the future?