Transition and maintaining creative ownership.

[Hazumu]

Boy, that was a long title -- sorry...

To explain -- I've got a lot of me (the I-hope-soon-to-be-old-me,) invested in various creative works that I can point to when looking for a job.

For the last few years I've produced videos, made posters, brochures and other graphic works, taken photographs and written articles for various U.S. Government agencies.  Of course, I've collected the better pieces and show them to prospective employers when I look for a new job.

How do I maintain 'ownership' of that work across a MtF transition? What do I need to consider, what do I need to accomplish so that 'Hazumu' gets to keep rightful credit for having brought those videos, scripts, logos and articles into being?

If you've had a similar experience, I'd love to hear your tale, both sucesses and failures.  And I think others would, too.

[Cassandra]

Regardless of your transition your intellectual property remains your intellectual property. The problem for you is that much of this will likely remain in your old name. You may be able to get the credits changed to reflect your new name for new copies but there is nothing you can do to change the work that has already been sold.

Cassie

[Dennis]

Yes, you would still own copyright to the works. Having them credited to you would either involve going back to the original contractors and asking if you can change the credits (for a video), explaining that your name has changed. Or, you would have to disclose your past to every future contractor. And that might be the best way during an interim time, so you can build up a new body of work in your new name.

Dennis

[Shelley]

Hi Hazumu,

I'm thinking that a number of people have created works under a pseudonym and still maintained interlectual property rights. This may be a solution for you.

Shelley

[Terri-Gene]

You create it you own it.  no problem as when you change your name you still own all you did under your former name, there are a few legal adjustments you may have to make in some instances but they are no great mountains to it.  spend some time with a good lawyer about ownership of rights after a name change and it shouldn't be any great and unsirmountable task, mostly just signing some papers where they are necessary.

Terri