How Do I Use IP Contracts and Notices to Protect My Intellectual Property?

2 min read

As an intellectual property owner, it's important to know how to enforce your rights. While there are people who will deliberately take someone's intellectual property and use it as their own, in many cases, misuse can be chalked up to a lack of communication. To minimize the risk of IP violations, it is good practice to use formal documents, including intellectual property contracts and notices. Here are some essential tips to help you put things in writing and protect your rights.

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Make Sure the Contract Covers All the Bases

Whenever you sign a contract that involves your intellectual property, make sure that you plainly and unambiguously state the terms of use. If you are licensing your work to another person, clearly outline the extent to which your intellectual property can be used, that you still retain full rights, and the procedure if the terms of the license are breached. The more the intellectual property contract covers, the better, especially when intellectual property ownership is being transferred. In these cases, to prevent immediate change of ownership, you may want to ensure that the transfer is tied to a certain action by the other party, such as issuing payment.

Include IP Notices Where Applicable

While it may seem obvious to you that your works are protected by law, it doesn't hurt to make it crystal clear. Include a clear notice stating you own the intellectual property and the rights to it. As with any intellectual property contract, the notice should be worded in a clear way that informs the reader as to exactly who owns the IP. This is especially important for websites, whose content can be easily copied and repurposed. Including a specific Copyright Notice can go a long way toward preventing and resolving any errors in communication.

Visit our intellectual property center for more IP contracts.

This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.