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
