I have been asked to film an event where the raw footage will be handed over to the organizor. No editing involved. They simply want me to show up with my camera and film whats needed. Can someone give me input on what a "work for hire" agrement is. I'm want to make sure that I avoid liability since I am simply being contracted.

A work-for-hire contract will not relieve you of any liability, but rather it assigns ownership of your work to the person hiring you. Basically the work-for-hire contract benefits the person doing the hiring, not you.

What kind of liability are you trying to avoid?

Chris:

I'm tring to avoid having to get releases signed, bluring out photographs and things of that nature.

I hope someone else can chime in here, but I believe releases are only needed to actually use the footage, not to shoot the footage. So I think you'd be in the clear in this case.

yeah, I'd think that they would be responsible to get releases if they decide to have the footage edited and release it. I dont think it is anything you have to worry about... but I could be wrong.

1) Show up
2) Shoot
3) Get paid
4) Hand over tapes
5) Buy beer

If they are hiring you as a shooter, collecting releases isn't your responsibility.

A work-for-hire agreement gives copyright to the payee of services. So you no longer will have rights of distribution, sale, etc. It's a very common thing in videography/photography although it's not always a given.

To answer your other question you are covered because the other company will own all your footage and if they use it without model releases it falls on them. More than likely they will have something on the event tickets about releases or have a sign posted somewhere about filming...or at least they should.

If it's a newsworthy even then you really needn't worry.