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PRACTICE AREAS / Contracts & Disputes

IP Assignment

What is an IP assignment agreement?

An IP assignment agreement transfers ownership of intellectual property — code, designs, writing, inventions — from its creator to another party, usually a business. Without one, the person who made the work often keeps the rights, even if you paid for it. A clear assignment makes ownership unambiguous.

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What a valid assignment requires

For ownership to transfer cleanly, an assignment generally needs:

  1. A present transfer — Language that assigns rights now, not a promise to assign later.
  2. A clear description — Identification of the work and rights being transferred.
  3. The right signatory — Signed by the actual creator or rights-holder.
  4. Moral-rights handling — Waivers where applicable, especially for creative work.
  5. Further-assurances — A commitment to sign anything needed to perfect the transfer.

How to get started

  1. Find the gaps. Identify work created by contractors or employees that you don't clearly own.
  2. Assign before you build. Get assignment language in place at the start of an engagement.
  3. Check existing contracts. Many templates promise to assign but never actually do.
  4. Fix it retroactively if needed. A confirmatory assignment can clean up past work.

How it works

We draft IP assignment agreements — standalone or built into your contractor and employment contracts — on a flat fee. If you're preparing for a financing, acquisition, or product launch, we can also review your existing agreements to confirm you actually own the work your business depends on.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions.

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