Confidentiality and IP
IP assignment agreement template
Intellectual property assignment agreement: An IP assignment agreement transfers ownership of intellectual property, such as code, designs, inventions or content, from the creator to another person or company.
Upload yours for a review and e-signature, or save it as a team template.
Start freeWhen to use an intellectual property assignment agreement
- A founder moves code written before incorporation into the company
- A contractor’s work needs to belong to the client
- Buying a brand, domain or software asset
IP assignment agreement template: clause-by-clause outline
Sample starting wording for each clause. Replace the text in [brackets] with your details.
Assignment
The Assignor assigns to the Assignee all right, title and interest in the Assigned IP, including all copyright, patents, designs and trade marks.
Assigned IP
The Assigned IP means [describe the work, e.g. the source code in repository X and related documentation].
Consideration
In return the Assignee will pay [amount] / The assignment is made in consideration of [one unit of currency and other good consideration].
Moral rights
To the extent permitted by law, the Assignor waives any moral rights in the Assigned IP.
Further assurance
The Assignor will sign any document reasonably needed to register or perfect the Assignee’s ownership.
Warranties
The Assignor confirms it created the Assigned IP, has not licensed or assigned it to anyone else and it does not infringe third-party rights.
What to check before you sign
- Is the assigned IP described precisely enough to identify it?
- Is there real consideration, which some countries require for a valid transfer?
- Do patents or trade marks need a separate filing with the registry?
Signing formalities: Some countries require a deed or specific registry forms for assigning patents or registered trade marks.
How to send an intellectual property assignment agreement for e-signature
- Draft or upload it. Use the outline above with your own wording, upload an existing document, or save it as your organisation’s template.
- Check it against your playbook. Points outside your positions are flagged, and approval rules route it to Legal when needed.
- Send it by email. Signers get a plain-language review and a secure link, sign on any device in the order you set, and can suggest changes as tracked changes.
- Keep the signed PDF. Everyone receives it with a certificate of completion, and key dates go to Upcoming with reminders.
IP assignment agreement template: frequently asked questions
Does an IP assignment need to be signed by hand?
Most can be signed electronically. Some registries ask for specific forms, and some countries require deeds for certain assignments, so check before filing.
What is the difference between assignment and licensing?
An assignment transfers ownership. A licence only grants permission to use the IP while the owner keeps it.
Is an electronically signed intellectual property assignment agreement legally binding?
Often, but not always. Some countries require a deed or specific registry forms for assigning patents or registered trade marks. econtracts.ai shows the rules for the contract’s governing law before you send it.
Can I get an intellectual property assignment agreement I received reviewed?
Yes. Upload it to econtracts.ai and you get a plain-language review: key dates, money and points to check, each quoting the clause it comes from.
Related contract templates
This outline is a starting point for discussion, not legal advice, and it is not a complete contract. Laws differ by country and sector; have a qualified lawyer review contracts that matter.