Case Name: Aymes vs. Bonelli By: Aaron Gabriel H.

Santos
No. 562, Docket 94-7470 Topic: works made for hire
Date: Jan. 30, 1995
FACTS
 Aymes was hired by Island Recreation Inc. (Island) and its president Bonelli, to create a computer
program.
 Aymes created CSALIB, it is designed to facilitate Island’s inventory, record keeping, etc.
 Aymes allege that respondents infringed his copyright over the computer program when the
latter modified the same and used it on more than one computer, in contrast to the parties’
verbal agreement.
 Island claimed that it is the owner of the computer program because Aymes was its employee.

Issue/s WON Aymes is the owner of the copyright over CSALIB. & WON respondents is guilty of copy right
infringement.

Ruling
YES. The court said that Aymes is in fact an Independent Contractor, making him the owner of the copyright for
CSALIB.

2nd issue: NO. respondents cannot infringe the copyright because of the fact that Aymes was paid by Island to
design a program specifically for Island’s use. The facts show that it is not true that Island used the program in
more than one computer as alleged by Aymes.

The modification done by Respondents does not also constitute infringement because such modifications are
necessary as provided for by the Contu Report.

DOCTRINE: Notes