Charlotte HughesThe trailer for Verity, released in April 2026, has thrust Dakota Johnson back into the cultural conversation. The psychological thriller, due in cinemas on 2 October 2026, stars Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling novelist hired to complete the unfinished manuscript of bestselling author Verity Crawford — played by Anne Hathaway. What begins as a professional assignment unravels into something far more disturbing.
The premise is fictional, but the professional situation it opens with — a writer hired to complete or write someone else's book — is common, real, and legally complex. For the many UK freelance writers, content creators, and communications professionals who work on ghostwriting arrangements, the questions the film raises have practical answers that too few of them know.
What Is Ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting occurs when a writer produces work that is published under someone else's name. The ghostwriter receives payment — usually a flat fee or royalty share — but receives no public credit. It is standard practice across publishing, business, journalism, politics, and content marketing.
In the UK, ghostwriting is entirely legal and widespread. Memoirs, celebrity autobiographies, business books, and LinkedIn articles are routinely ghostwritten. The practice is not inherently deceptive — it is a commercial agreement between a writer and a person who wants polished work produced in their name.
The legal complexity arises in what that agreement actually says, and in what happens when no proper agreement exists at all.
Who Owns the Copyright?
Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the default owner of copyright in a written work is the person who creates it — the author. This means that a ghostwriter, absent any contrary agreement, owns the copyright to what they write.
This is often the opposite of what both parties expect.
If you hire a freelance writer to produce a book chapter, a blog post, or a business manuscript under your name, and no written contract specifies that the copyright transfers to you, the writer retains ownership. They could, in theory, republish the work under their own name, licence it to others, or prevent you from using it. This does not often happen in practice — professional ghostwriters understand the implicit nature of their work — but it is the default legal position, and it creates risk if the relationship breaks down.
To transfer copyright from a ghostwriter to the commissioning party, the contract must include an explicit assignment of rights. This must be in writing and signed by the assignor (the ghostwriter). An oral agreement or informal understanding is not sufficient.
What Should a Ghostwriting Contract Include?
A well-drafted ghostwriting agreement should address several key areas:
Scope of work. A precise description of what is being written, including word count, format, and delivery deadlines.
Payment terms. Whether payment is a flat fee, royalties, or a combination. Where royalties are included, the contract should specify the royalty rate, how it is calculated, when it is paid, and whether the ghostwriter is entitled to audit the publisher's accounts.
Copyright assignment. An explicit clause stating that all intellectual property rights in the work, including copyright, are assigned to the commissioning party upon payment in full. This assignment should cover primary rights and any subsidiary rights (translation, adaptation, serialisation).
Credit. Whether the ghostwriter's involvement is acknowledged (for example, in the acknowledgements section of a book) or kept entirely confidential.
Confidentiality. Whether the ghostwriter is prohibited from disclosing that they worked on the project, and for how long.
Moral rights. Under UK law, authors retain certain moral rights, including the right to be identified as the author of a work. In ghostwriting, the writer must waive this right in writing for the arrangement to function properly.
The Risk of Informal Arrangements
Many ghostwriting arrangements in the UK begin and end informally. A writer is introduced to a client, an email exchange sets out the broad terms, work begins, payment is made, and both parties move on without ever signing a contract.
This works until it does not. Disputes about ownership, exclusivity, or the right to repurpose material are disproportionately common in creative industries precisely because of the frequency of informal arrangements. By the time a dispute arises, the question of what was actually agreed becomes a matter of competing recollections.
Employment lawyers and intellectual property solicitors see these cases regularly. The resolution is almost always more expensive, and less satisfying, than a proper agreement would have been.
When to Get Legal Advice
Ghostwriting raises different concerns for writers and commissioners:
If you are commissioning a ghostwriter for a substantial piece of work — a book, a series of articles, a business document — a solicitor can draft or review a contract that properly transfers copyright, includes appropriate confidentiality provisions, and protects your investment.
If you are working as a ghostwriter, legal advice helps you understand what you are actually giving up when you sign an assignment clause, whether a royalty arrangement is properly structured, and what recourse you have if a client fails to pay.
Verity dramatises the extremes of what can go wrong when professional boundaries and expectations are unclear. The reality for UK creative industry workers is usually less dramatic — but the legal principles that govern ghostwriting agreements are the same, and the protection available through proper contracts is real.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice on your specific circumstances.
Expert Zoom connects writers, publishers, and content commissioners across the UK with employment and intellectual property lawyers who specialise in creative industry contracts.
