Professional Practice Architecture Practice Test

When a plan is drawn by a Draftsman under the supervision of a Licensed Architect, who owns the document?

1. Draftsman

2. R.L.A.

3. Company

4. Client

The correct answer is: Company

The document created by a draftsman under the supervision of a licensed architect typically becomes the property of the company that employs the draftsman and architect. This is due to the nature of work-for-hire agreements common in architecture and design firms, where the intellectual property rights of the plans and designs are assigned to the company rather than to individuals. In this scenario, the draftsman works on behalf of the company, and while the licensed architect oversees the design process to ensure it meets professional standards and regulations, the company retains ownership of all documents produced as part of the project. This framework helps maintain consistency, accountability, and corporate responsibility for the architectural work. Ownership by the client, the draftsman, or the architect themselves is less likely in a professional practice context unless otherwise specified by contract. Clients typically receive rights to use the documents but do not own the underlying intellectual property until there are specific arrangements made, such as the termination of the project or purchase of rights. Therefore, understanding the hierarchical structure of ownership and the roles of each party in a project is essential in professional practice in architecture.