Knowing who actually holds the rights to commissioned work
A consultation for businesses that have commissioned creative or technical work and want a clear answer on ownership.
HomeThe promise
You leave this consultation with a clear, written answer to who holds the rights to work you have commissioned as things currently stand, what moral rights remain with the creator under Japanese law, and what wording would be needed to secure the use you actually intend.
The problem this addresses
It is a common assumption that paying for photography, illustration, software, video, or written material means owning it outright. Under Japanese law this is frequently not the case without explicit agreement, and the gap between assumption and actual entitlement tends to surface only when the material needs to be reused, modified, or licensed onward.
The approach
The consultation reviews any existing contracts or correspondence connected to the commission, considers what was actually agreed, and identifies where the current position may fall short of the use you intend. Frequently the honest conclusion is that existing rights are narrower than assumed — that conclusion is stated plainly, since it is the useful one.
The experience
The session runs about one hour, with existing contracts reviewed beforehand so the discussion is grounded rather than speculative. You receive a written summary of the current position, along with suggested clause wording to use in future commissions so the same question does not recur.
The investment
¥12,800
Covers a one-hour consultation with prior review of existing contracts, a written summary, and suggested clause wording for future commissions.
On outcomes
The consultation describes the position as it currently stands and what would change it. It does not itself transfer or alter existing rights — where new wording or a fresh agreement is needed to secure the use you want, that is a separate, clearly scoped step.
The guarantee
There is no obligation to commission further work after this consultation. The written summary and suggested wording remain useful on their own for how future commissions are handled.
Next steps
Sharing what the commissioned work is and any contracts or correspondence you have on hand is enough to prepare for a focused, useful hour.