Dance for hire

Martha Graham School and Dance Foundation, Inc. v. Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, Inc. (2d Cir., Aug. 18, 2004).

Dances choreographed by Martha Graham after she founded the Martha Graham School and Martha Graham Center are considered works-for-hire and owned by the School and Center. When Graham was employed by the Center to be its artistic director and to create new dances, those works are considered works-for-hire.

The decision includes a handy chart at the end which clarifies the ownership and copyright status of each of the 70 disputed dances.

NY Law Journal: Dances by Graham Held 'Work for Hire' in Ownership Case