><i>A highly recommended practice is to institute a clause which covers a variety of scenarios of assignment of the copyright for all work produced.</i><p>This is what I've done for years with my Service Agreement. IP transfer officially occurs on full payment, and rights are assigned to Client if Product would not be considered a work made for hire under applicable law. Though if I'm not paid, I send a written warning after N past due. If still don't get paid N days past said notice, I reserve the right to equitable relief, send a cease to desist, and if I still don't get paid I can go to court and get an injunction to stop Client from using it. There is some language that clearly provides a grace period to the Client to use it while awaiting invoices, etc.<p>IP transfer is the most leverage you have as a freelance software consultant. It's the one thing you should have clearly defined in a Services Agreement, and you shouldn't waffle on.