However, not getting the legals right initially can leave you in a difficult (and potentially expensive) position down the line.
Imagine you engage someone to create something for you, eg a mobile application, website, or marketing materials. They are not your employee - you are friends. Something goes wrong and you fall out. If you did not sort out the contract initially, you could end up being unable to use their work or face a hefty price tag to secure the rights you need, even though you have already paid for the work.
You do not necessarily own the copyright in work just because you paid for the work to be carried out.
What is copyright? It is an intellectual property right arising automatically on creation in things like software, designs, written materials, photographs.
If the person generating a copyright work for you is your employee, then the copyright should normally belong to you. If they are a contractor or consultant, then copyright will stay with them, unless you agree otherwise with them in writing.
This may be a low risk if you remain fast friends. But if you fall out, it could be a weapon they use against you and:
Another concern is whether you have adequate protection if they have "borrowed" their work from another source - and the owner of the original work comes after you for copyright infringement.
Here is some guidance on dealing with contractors:
This article originally featured in Downtown in Business Birmingham.