Can you copyright architectural plans?

In 1990, Congress passed the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act (AWCPA) to protect the intellectual property of architects. … You cannot copyright an idea, only original expressions of that idea. Certain elements of architectural design are so common that they are, by law, unprotected.

Who owns copyright in architectural drawings?

Under the default ownership rules, with respect to a copyright in a set of architectural plans, the copyright will be owned by the individual that actually created the plans. And, if two architects worked together to create the plans, then the copyright to the plans will be owned jointly by both architects.

How do you protect architectural plans?

Copyright is a legal concept that gives the creator of a work the exclusive right to use that work for a limited time. These rights can be an important mechanism through which architects can protect their designs.

Do I own my architect’s drawings?

The architect who draws the architectural plans is the first owner of copyright in the plans and the building created from them, unless there is agreement to the contrary or they were created during the course of employment.

Are architectural drawings intellectual property?

Architectural ideas are intellectual property just as much as a novel is the intellectual property of its author. … There are two IP protections architects could apply to their work: a copyright and a trademark.

Can I draw my own house plans?

It doesn’t take much in the way of resources to draw up your own house plans — just access to the Internet, a computer and a free architectural software program. If you prefer the old-school method, you’ll need a drafting table, drafting tools and large sheets of 24-by-36-inch paper to draft the plans by hand.

How much does it cost to draw up house plans?

How Much Does It Cost to Have House Plans Drawn Up? It’ll cost between $809 and $2,677 with an average $1,741 to hire a draftsperson for a blueprint or house plan. They will charge anywhere from $50 to $130 per hour.

How do you negotiate architect fees?

Like any service provider Architects add profit to their costs. Your negotiation needs to focus on the amount of profit added to each man-hour. The only way to know this margin is to ask them for it. When you solicit the price request a price break-down of the hourly rate.

What rights does an architect have?

Moral rights can only be owned by individuals. An architect has the right to be attributed as the designer of a project when it is constructed, and when the work is publicised or represented in print. Architects also have the right to be informed if their project is to be altered or demolished.

How much does it cost to draw a house plan in Kenya?

According to the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, the standard fee for architectural house plan in Kenya is 6 percent of the total construction costs.

Who do architectural plans belong to?

Ownership of architectural plans belongs to the creator of those plans, not to the person whose house is being built from those plans, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary.