A co-host tells the founder of a podcast and its network, "I think I'm owed a piece of this" — after two years of co-hosting with no contract and no conversation about ownership. What follows is a real case from my law practice: a co-host asserting control over the show's direction and attempting to move it to a different network, right as the show approached real sponsorship revenue. The resulting dispute took a over year to resolve and left the show dark the entire time, meaning neither side ever collected the revenue they were fighting over.

In this episode, I'm breakind down two sides of the legal risk podcasters face as they build a team:

People you hire. Paying a contractor doesn't automatically mean you own what they create. "Work made for hire" is a narrow legal category that rarely applies to independent contractors by default — ownership of templates, graphics, edited audio, and other work product generally has to be assigned to you in writing.

People who join organically. Co-hosts, recurring collaborators, and others who become a consistent part of a show — without ever being formally hired — can support a real legal claim to profits, decision-making authority, or even the show's name, based on their conduct and contribution alone.

The episode closes with a practical prompt: an audit of everyone with a recurring role in your show, and what — if anything — is actually documented for each of them.

FREE Resources mentioned:

Creator Business Protection Blueprint — gordonfiremark.com/blueprint

Legit Podcast Pro is hosted by Gordon Firemark, an entertainment and media attorney known as The Podcast Lawyer™, helping podcasters and creator businesses build audience, brand, and revenue into lasting, protected assets.