Any creator, developer, or artist who has ever licensed their
work has seen a line in their contract which is both foundational
and forgettable. This line is deep in the legalese, yet forms the
bedrock upon which the entire agreement stands. It reads something
like this:
"The AUTHOR hereby declares that the said WORK is an
original WORK and that the AUTHOR is the owner of the copyright
therein and that the WORK is in no way whatsoever a violation of
any existing copyright."
A simple promise which is a warranty of originality and serves
as indemnity against infringement. This clause in licensing and IP
agreements has for decades been the handshake which allows
intellectual property to move from an individual's mind to the
global marketplace. It is the seed behind any Intellectual
Property, the promise of that very 'intellect.' The creator
warrants they created it, and the publisher or licensee accepts the
work, secure in that knowledge.
