copyright script

how to secure rights

[colinf]

hello,
we have found a programmer (different country) who is writing a php/mysql search engine script for us. He says "do not worry, you will have the copyright" but just because he says it belongs to us does not mean much, how should i go about gaining that copyright?
Obviously, if he wrote the script, he will keep a copy for himself and if another client comes along looking for a similar script, he could say "sure i have one, take this" Then that client obtains copyright....sees my website 6 months later and says "Thats my script, gonna sue ya".

Is there are standard text for back end scripts (i desinged the frontend, graphics, etc myself) that i could send him, requiring his signature and turning all rights over to us?
Thanks
Colin

[rogerd]

I'd recommend looking beyond the copyright aspects and using a software development agreement that also covers deliverables, timing, payment, performance details, etc. In addition to stating that you own all rights to the software, it would be a good idea to have the developer certify that all work is original and that no part of your software is the intellectual property of others or is encumbered by open source, Creative Commons, or other licensing schemes.

This isn't to say you'll have a lot of recourse to a one-person operation on the other side of the globe, but you'll have good documentation if a third party comes after you.