What is an intellectual property assignment?
An IP assignment is a contract that transfers ownership of intellectual property, such as copyright, patents, trade marks, or designs, from one party to another.
Business & Startups
Intellectual Property Assignment
Generate an intellectual property assignment transferring copyright, patents, or designs to a UK business, consistent with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
- Create an IP assignment from a contractor to a business
Generate an intellectual property assignment agreement transferring all rights in [Description of IP, e.g. software code or designs] created by [Contractor Name] to [Company Name], consistent with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
- Create a founder IP assignment agreement
Generate an IP assignment agreement transferring all intellectual property in [Description of IP] created by founder [Founder Name] prior to incorporation to [Company Name].
- Create a patent or trade mark assignment
Generate an assignment agreement transferring ownership of [Patent/Trade Mark, including registration number if applicable] from [Assignor Name] to [Assignee Name], consistent with the Patents Act 1977 or Trade Marks Act 1994 as applicable.
IP Assignment Generator (UK)
An intellectual property assignment is the contract that formally transfers ownership of copyright, patents, trade marks, or designs from one party to another, which under UK law must be in writing and signed by the assignor to be effective for copyright under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This free UK IP assignment generator produces agreements for assigning IP created by employees, contractors, or founders to a business, and for one-off IP sales between businesses. It is designed for UK startups securing ownership of code, designs, or content created before formal contracts were in place, and businesses acquiring IP rights as part of a broader transaction. The generator lets you specify the IP being assigned, any payment or consideration, and warranties that the assignor actually owns the rights being transferred. Use it to close gaps in IP ownership and ensure your business has clear title to the IP it relies on.
Frequently asked questions
Does an IP assignment need to be in writing in the UK?
Yes, under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, a copyright assignment must be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the assignor to be effective; registered patents and trade marks also generally require a formal, recorded assignment.
Who owns IP created by a contractor in the UK if there's no assignment?
Unless assigned, copyright created by a self-employed contractor generally remains with the contractor, not the business that commissioned the work, which is why an assignment is important.
Does the same rule apply to employees?
Generally, copyright in work created by an employee in the course of their employment belongs to the employer by default under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, though an assignment can still remove any doubt.
What should an IP assignment include?
A clear description of the IP being assigned, confirmation the assignor owns the rights, any payment or consideration, and any moral rights waivers where relevant.
Why would a startup need founder IP assignments?
Founders often create code, designs, or content before the company is incorporated; without a formal assignment, that IP may legally remain with the individual founder rather than the company, which is a common issue in due diligence.