# Who owns an architect's drawings, by statute and appointment

> 13 rules on who owns an architect's drawings and models and what a client's licence covers, each quoted from the statute or the appointment's publisher, read 28 October 2026.

Sell Architecture Data to AI · https://sellarchitecturedatatoai.com/datasets/architecture-design-ownership-law/ · computed 2026-10-28

**Rules quoted from the text:** 13 provisions (13 texts read; 19 named).

## The answers, question by question

- **Where the rule comes from:** a UK statute 6, a US statute or the US Copyright Office 5, the AIA's standard appointment 1, the RIBA's standard appointment 1
- **What it settles:** what in a building or drawing is protected 3, what others may do without a licence 3, how a right is assigned or licensed 3, what the client may do with the drawings 2, who owns a design first 1, how long the right lasts 1
- **The rule in its own words:** stated 13

## Every provision

| Provision | Where the rule comes from | What it settles | The rule in its own words |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 U.S.C. 101, architectural work | a US statute or the US Copyright Office | what in a building or drawing is protected | The work includes the overall form as well as the arrangement and composition of spaces… |
| 17 U.S.C. 102(a)(8), architectural works | a US statute or the US Copyright Office | what in a building or drawing is protected | An architect's plans and drawings would, of course, be protected by copyright, but the… |
| 17 U.S.C. 120(b), alterations and destruction | a US statute or the US Copyright Office | what others may do without a licence | the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the… |
| 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership | a US statute or the US Copyright Office | who owns a design first | Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors… |
| 17 U.S.C. 302(c), term for hire | a US statute or the US Copyright Office | how long the right lasts | or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first |
| AIA B101-2017, instruments of service | the AIA's standard appointment | what the client may do with the drawings | The Owner receives a license to use the Instruments of Service solely and exclusively for… |
| CDPA 1988 s.4(1)(b), work of architecture | a UK statute | what in a building or drawing is protected | a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or |
| CDPA 1988 s.62, buildings on public display | a UK statute | what others may do without a licence | sculptures, models for buildings and works of artistic craftsmanship, if permanently… |
| CDPA 1988 s.65, reconstruction of buildings | a UK statute | what others may do without a licence | Anything done for the purposes of reconstructing a building does not infringe any… |
| CDPA 1988 s.90(4), licence binds successors | a UK statute | how a right is assigned or licensed | A licence granted by a copyright owner is binding on every successor in title to his… |
| CDPA 1988 s.91, prospective ownership | a UK statute | how a right is assigned or licensed | Where by an agreement made in relation to future copyright, and signed by or on behalf of… |
| CDPA 1988 s.92(1), exclusive licence | a UK statute | how a right is assigned or licensed | In this Part an “exclusive licence” means a licence in writing signed by or on behalf of… |
| RIBA Professional Services Contracts 2020, copyright licence | the RIBA's standard appointment | what the client may do with the drawings | Licence arrangements in the Architect's copyright materials attempt to strike a balance… |

## The sentence each answer rests on (39)

- 17 U.S.C. 101, architectural work, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 1 (section 101)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "An “architectural work” is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression"
- 17 U.S.C. 101, architectural work, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 1 (section 101)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "The work includes the overall form as well as the arrangement and composition of spaces and elements in the design, but does not include individual standard features."
- 17 U.S.C. 101, architectural work, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 1 (section 101)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "The work includes the overall form as well as the arrangement and composition of spaces and elements in the design, but does not include individual standard features."
- 17 U.S.C. 102(a)(8), architectural works, [Title 17, United States Code, section 102 (with notes)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/102?link-type=html), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "An architect's plans and drawings would, of course, be protected by copyright"
- 17 U.S.C. 102(a)(8), architectural works, [Title 17, United States Code, section 102 (with notes)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/102?link-type=html), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "An architect's plans and drawings would, of course, be protected by copyright, but the extent to which that protection would extend to the structure depicted would depend on the circumstances."
- 17 U.S.C. 102(a)(8), architectural works, [Title 17, United States Code, section 102 (with notes)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/102?link-type=html), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "An architect's plans and drawings would, of course, be protected by copyright, but the extent to which that protection would extend to the structure depicted would depend on the circumstances."
- 17 U.S.C. 120(b), alterations and destruction, [Title 17, United States Code, section 120](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/120?link-type=html), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106(2), the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may"
- 17 U.S.C. 120(b), alterations and destruction, [Title 17, United States Code, section 120](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/120?link-type=html), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the author or copyright owner of the architectural work, make or authorize the making of alterations to such building, and destroy or authorize the destruction of such building."
- 17 U.S.C. 120(b), alterations and destruction, [Title 17, United States Code, section 120](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/120?link-type=html), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the author or copyright owner of the architectural work, make or authorize the making of alterations to such building, and destroy or authorize the destruction of such building."
- 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 2 (section 201)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap2.html), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work."
- 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 2 (section 201)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap2.html), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work. The authors of a joint work are coowners of copyright in the work."
- 17 U.S.C. 201(a), initial ownership, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 2 (section 201)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap2.html), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work. The authors of a joint work are coowners of copyright in the work."
- 17 U.S.C. 302(c), term for hire, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 3 (section 302)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html), read 2026-10-27, Where the rule comes from: "or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first"
- 17 U.S.C. 302(c), term for hire, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 3 (section 302)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html), read 2026-10-27, What it settles: "or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first"
- 17 U.S.C. 302(c), term for hire, [Title 17, United States Code, chapter 3 (section 302)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html), read 2026-10-27, The rule in its own words: "or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first"
- AIA B101-2017, instruments of service, [AIA Contract Documents, The Rights of an Architect's Instruments of Service](https://help.aiacontracts.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009310881-The-Rights-of-an-Architect-s-Instruments-of-Service), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "the Architect and the Architect’s consultants are deemed the authors and owners of their respective Instruments of Service"
- AIA B101-2017, instruments of service, [AIA Contract Documents, The Rights of an Architect's Instruments of Service](https://help.aiacontracts.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009310881-The-Rights-of-an-Architect-s-Instruments-of-Service), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "The Owner receives a license to use the Instruments of Service solely and exclusively for constructing, using, maintaining, altering and adding to the Project."
- AIA B101-2017, instruments of service, [AIA Contract Documents, The Rights of an Architect's Instruments of Service](https://help.aiacontracts.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009310881-The-Rights-of-an-Architect-s-Instruments-of-Service), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "The Owner receives a license to use the Instruments of Service solely and exclusively for constructing, using, maintaining, altering and adding to the Project."
- CDPA 1988 s.4(1)(b), work of architecture, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 4](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/4), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or"
- CDPA 1988 s.4(1)(b), work of architecture, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 4](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/4), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or"
- CDPA 1988 s.4(1)(b), work of architecture, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 4](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/4), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or"
- CDPA 1988 s.62, buildings on public display, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 62](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/62), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "sculptures, models for buildings and works of artistic craftsmanship, if permanently situated in a public place"
- CDPA 1988 s.62, buildings on public display, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 62](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/62), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "sculptures, models for buildings and works of artistic craftsmanship, if permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public."
- CDPA 1988 s.62, buildings on public display, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 62](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/62), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "sculptures, models for buildings and works of artistic craftsmanship, if permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public."
- CDPA 1988 s.65, reconstruction of buildings, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 65](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/65), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "Anything done for the purposes of reconstructing a building does not infringe any copyright"
- CDPA 1988 s.65, reconstruction of buildings, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 65](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/65), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "Anything done for the purposes of reconstructing a building does not infringe any copyright"
- CDPA 1988 s.65, reconstruction of buildings, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 65](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/65), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "Anything done for the purposes of reconstructing a building does not infringe any copyright"
- CDPA 1988 s.90(4), licence binds successors, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/90), read 2026-10-08, Where the rule comes from: "A licence granted by a copyright owner is binding on every successor in title to his interest in the copyright"
- CDPA 1988 s.90(4), licence binds successors, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/90), read 2026-10-08, What it settles: "A licence granted by a copyright owner is binding on every successor in title to his interest in the copyright, except a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and without notice (actual or constructive) of the licence"
- CDPA 1988 s.90(4), licence binds successors, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/90), read 2026-10-08, The rule in its own words: "A licence granted by a copyright owner is binding on every successor in title to his interest in the copyright, except a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and without notice (actual or constructive) of the licence"
- CDPA 1988 s.91, prospective ownership, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 91](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/91), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "Where by an agreement made in relation to future copyright, and signed by or on behalf of the prospective owner of the copyright"
- CDPA 1988 s.91, prospective ownership, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 91](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/91), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "Where by an agreement made in relation to future copyright, and signed by or on behalf of the prospective owner of the copyright, the prospective owner purports to assign the future copyright (wholly or partially) to another person"
- CDPA 1988 s.91, prospective ownership, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 91](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/91), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "Where by an agreement made in relation to future copyright, and signed by or on behalf of the prospective owner of the copyright, the prospective owner purports to assign the future copyright (wholly or partially) to another person"
- CDPA 1988 s.92(1), exclusive licence, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 92](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/92), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "In this Part an “exclusive licence” means a licence in writing signed by or on behalf of the copyright owner"
- CDPA 1988 s.92(1), exclusive licence, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 92](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/92), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "In this Part an “exclusive licence” means a licence in writing signed by or on behalf of the copyright owner authorising the licensee to the exclusion of all other persons, including the person granting the licence"
- CDPA 1988 s.92(1), exclusive licence, [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 92](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/92), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "In this Part an “exclusive licence” means a licence in writing signed by or on behalf of the copyright owner authorising the licensee to the exclusion of all other persons, including the person granting the licence"
- RIBA Professional Services Contracts 2020, copyright licence, [RIBA, Professional Services Contracts: a helpful and practical agreement](https://www.riba.org/work/business-tools/riba-contracts/riba-professional-services-contracts-a-helpful-and-practical-agreement/), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule comes from: "the conditions attaching to the Client's licence to use the Architect's copyright materials"
- RIBA Professional Services Contracts 2020, copyright licence, [RIBA, Professional Services Contracts: a helpful and practical agreement](https://www.riba.org/work/business-tools/riba-contracts/riba-professional-services-contracts-a-helpful-and-practical-agreement/), read 2026-10-28, What it settles: "Licence arrangements in the Architect's copyright materials attempt to strike a balance between conditions that a Client is likely to accept on the one hand and protecting the Architect from the potential inequity of a Client having a right to use materials for which it has not paid"
- RIBA Professional Services Contracts 2020, copyright licence, [RIBA, Professional Services Contracts: a helpful and practical agreement](https://www.riba.org/work/business-tools/riba-contracts/riba-professional-services-contracts-a-helpful-and-practical-agreement/), read 2026-10-28, The rule in its own words: "Licence arrangements in the Architect's copyright materials attempt to strike a balance between conditions that a Client is likely to accept on the one hand and protecting the Architect from the potential inequity of a Client having a right to use materials for which it has not paid"

## Read and set aside

- [RIBA Journal, Architects' copyright licences and infringements on drawings](https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/legal-copyright-in-architects-drawings-licenses-and-infringement/): commentary: the charter admits it for discovery only; every rule on the board is quoted from the statute or the appointment's publisher
- [RIBA Journal, copyright when taking on existing projects](https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/intelligence-architects-need-to-know-about-copyright-when-taking-on-existing-projects/): commentary: the charter admits it for discovery only; every rule on the board is quoted from the statute or the appointment's publisher
- [AIA community hub, why maintaining copyright of your architectural work is important](https://communityhub.aia.org/blogs/cheryl-davis/2016/12/14/why-maintaining-copyright-of-your-architectural-work-is-important): commentary: the charter admits it for discovery only; every rule on the board is quoted from the statute or the appointment's publisher

## Methodology

Each provision's own copyright statutes and the publishers' own pages on the AIA and RIBA appointment terms were read through estate-fetch and stored whole (sha256 on every row). For every text, three questions were answered from its own words: where the rule comes from, what it settles, the rule in its own words. Every stated answer carries the sentence it rests on, checked against the stored text; 'not stated' means the text read does not address the question. A provision with several texts reads 'varies' where they disagree. 13 provisions, 13 texts.

## Sources

- [17 U.S.C. ch. 1 (s.101 architectural work; s.102(a)(8); s.120 scope of an architectural work)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html) (read)
- [17 U.S.C. s.102 (subject matter: architectural works)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/102?link-type=html) (read)
- [17 U.S.C. s.120 (scope of exclusive rights in architectural works)](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/17/120?link-type=html) (read)
- [17 U.S.C. ch. 2 (s.201 ownership and works made for hire; s.204 transfer in writing)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap2.html) (read)
- [US Copyright Office, Circular 41: Copyright Claims in Architectural Works](https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ41.pdf) (unread)
- [CDPA 1988 s.4 (artistic works include a work of architecture)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/4) (read)
- [CDPA 1988 s.11 (first owner; employee works)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/11) (unread)
- [CDPA 1988 s.12 (duration of copyright)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/12) (unread)
- [CDPA 1988 s.62 (buildings on public display)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/62) (read)
- [CDPA 1988 s.65 (reconstruction of buildings)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/65) (read)
- [CDPA 1988 s.90 (assignment and licences)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/90) (read)
- [CDPA 1988 s.91 (prospective ownership)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/91) (read)
- [CDPA 1988 s.92 (exclusive licences)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/92) (read)
- [AIA Contract Documents, The Rights of an Architect's Instruments of Service (B101)](https://help.aiacontracts.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009310881-The-Rights-of-an-Architect-s-Instruments-of-Service) (read)
- [RIBA, Professional Services Contracts: a helpful and practical agreement](https://www.riba.org/work/business-tools/riba-contracts/riba-professional-services-contracts-a-helpful-and-practical-agreement/) (read)
- [RIBA Journal, Architects' copyright licences and infringements on drawings](https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/legal-copyright-in-architects-drawings-licenses-and-infringement/) (not-terms)
- [RIBA Journal, copyright when taking on existing projects](https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/intelligence-architects-need-to-know-about-copyright-when-taking-on-existing-projects/) (not-terms)
- [AIA community hub, why maintaining copyright of your architectural work is important](https://communityhub.aia.org/blogs/cheryl-davis/2016/12/14/why-maintaining-copyright-of-your-architectural-work-is-important) (not-terms)
- [17 U.S.C. ch. 3 (s.302 duration, including works made for hire)](https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html) (read)

## Cite or embed

- 13 rules on who owns an architect's drawings and models and what a client's licence covers, each quoted from the statute or the appointment's publisher, read 28 October 2026.
- Where the rule comes from, by provision: a UK statute 6 of 13, a US statute or the US Copyright Office 5 of 13, the AIA's standard appointment 1 of 13, the RIBA's standard appointment 1 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
- What it settles, by provision: what others may do without a licence 3 of 13, how a right is assigned or licensed 3 of 13, what in a building or drawing is protected 3 of 13, what the client may do with the drawings 2 of 13, who owns a design first 1 of 13, how long the right lasts 1 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
- The rule in its own words, by provision: stated 13 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).

Cite as: "Who owns an architect's drawings, by statute and appointment", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellarchitecturedatatoai.com/datasets/architecture-design-ownership-law/.

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