(a) Initial Ownership. 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 co-owner of copyright in the work.
(b) Works Made for Hire. In the case of a work made
for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared
is considered the author for purposes of this title, and, unless the
parties have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed
by them, owns all of the rights comprised in the copyright.
(d) Transfer of Ownership.
(1) The ownership of a copyright may be transferred in whole or
in part by any means of conveyance or by operation of law, and may
be bequeathed by will or pass as personal property by the applicable
laws of intestate succession.
(2) Any of the exclusive rights comprised in a copyright, including
any subdivision of any of the rights specified by section 106, may
be transferred as provided by clause (1) and owned separately. The
owner of any particular exclusive right is entitled, to the extent
of that right, to all of the protection and remedies accorded to
the copyright owner by this title.