Developers often use contract documents
generated for one project to
help in the design or construction of
later projects. When this occurs, is
the original designer entitled to compensation
for the subsequent use of
the plans?
Developers argue that they paid the
architect or the engineer once for
these documents and therefore are
free to use them as they wish.
Designers counter that developers do
not pay for the documents but rather
pay for the services required to
generate the documents. Consequently,
designers believe that, as
After the second
apartment complex
was completed, the
designers
copyrighted the
original plans, then
took legal action.
owner of the documents, they are
entitled to be paid again if the
developer uses the plans again.
The ownership rights to contract
documents