Which statement about assignment is true?

Which statement about assignment is true?

• A. Assignment permanently relinquishes copyright ownership
• B. Assignment grants temporary permission
• C. Assignment creates a license
• D. Assignment places work in public domain

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that assignment involves transferring ownership of copyright, not just granting permission to use it. When someone assigns a work, they convey the rights to another party, and typically this transfer is permanent. The assignee then holds the copyright and can control and license the work going forward, independent of the original creator. This is why the statement that assignment permanently relinquishes copyright ownership is the best fit. A license, by contrast, is merely permission to use the work and does not transfer ownership, so it’s not the same as assignment. Placement of a work in the public domain is also not accomplished by assignment; public-domain status arises from expiration, dedication, or other statutory conditions, not from simply transferring ownership in a contract.

The key idea here is that assignment involves transferring ownership of copyright, not just granting permission to use it. When someone assigns a work, they convey the rights to another party, and typically this transfer is permanent. The assignee then holds the copyright and can control and license the work going forward, independent of the original creator.

This is why the statement that assignment permanently relinquishes copyright ownership is the best fit. A license, by contrast, is merely permission to use the work and does not transfer ownership, so it’s not the same as assignment. Placement of a work in the public domain is also not accomplished by assignment; public-domain status arises from expiration, dedication, or other statutory conditions, not from simply transferring ownership in a contract.