Free Startup Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement Template
Startup Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement
This Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement (the "Agreement") is made effective as of [Insert Date], by and between [Assignor Name], an individual with a principal place of residence at [Insert Assignor Address] ("Assignor"), and [Your Company Name], a [Insert State/Country of Incorporation] corporation with its principal place of business located at [Your Company Address] ("Company").
Preamble
WHEREAS, Assignor has been engaged in the development of certain intellectual property which is of interest to Company and relevant to Company's business operations;
WHEREAS, Company desires to acquire all right, title, and interest in and to such intellectual property to ensure the protection and commercial exploitation of such intellectual property for the benefit of Company's business;
WHEREAS, Assignor is willing to assign to Company all of Assignor's right, title, and interest in and to the intellectual property in consideration for equity in Company, under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
A. Definition of Intellectual Property
For the purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual Property" shall include but not be limited to all inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, reports, and all similar or related information (whether patentable or not), that have been developed, created, invented, made, conceived, or reduced to practice by Assignor either alone or jointly with others, prior to and during the term of Assignor's engagement with Company. Intellectual Property also encompasses, but is not limited to, all:
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Patentable inventions (whether or not a patent application has been filed);
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Software, including source code, object code, and related documentation;
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Works of authorship, including drafts, notes, and works in progress;
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Trademarks, trade names, service marks, logos, domain names, and any other symbols or indicators of origin or source that have been developed;
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Confidential and proprietary information, including but not limited to business strategies, customer lists, technologies, processes, and formulas.
B. Assignment of Intellectual Property
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Assignment: Assignor hereby assigns to Company all right, title, and interest in and to the Intellectual Property as defined above, including without limitation any and all patents and patent applications, copyrights, trademark rights, trade secrets, and any other proprietary rights related thereto. This assignment is intended to be a full and complete transfer of all of Assignor's rights in the Intellectual Property to Company, to be held and used by Company for its own benefit, in perpetuity, or for the maximum period of time permitted by law.
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Consideration: In consideration for the assignment of the Intellectual Property, Company agrees to provide Assignor with equity in Company. The specific terms of this consideration are detailed in Schedule A attached hereto.
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Further Actions: Assignor agrees to perform, during and after the term of their engagement with Company, all acts that Company deems necessary or desirable to permit and assist it, at Company's expense, in obtaining and enforcing the full benefits, enjoyment, rights, and title throughout the world in the Intellectual Property assigned hereunder. This may include, but is not limited to, executing and delivering any and all documents or affidavits required for filing, prosecuting, and maintaining patent, copyright, and trademark applications, and executing any documents necessary to enforce the Intellectual Property against third parties.
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Warranties: Assignor warrants that (i) Assignor is the sole owner of the Intellectual Property and has the full legal right and authority to assign the Intellectual Property to Company as provided in this Agreement; (ii) the Intellectual Property is free of any liens, encumbrances, or other restrictions that would conflict with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) to the best of Assignor's knowledge, the Intellectual Property does not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party.
C. Consideration
In exchange for the assignment of the Intellectual Property as defined herein, Company agrees to provide Assignor with the following consideration: 100,000 shares of Company's common stock. The terms of this consideration, including any conditions, vesting schedules, payment timelines, or other relevant details, are outlined in Schedule A attached to this Agreement. This consideration represents the full and complete compensation to Assignor for the assignment of the Intellectual Property and any obligations under this Agreement.
D. Representations and Warranties
Assignor hereby makes the following representations and warranties to Company:
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Ownership and Right to Assign: Assignor is the sole owner of the Intellectual Property and has the unrestricted right to assign the Intellectual Property to Company. There are no existing agreements, obligations, or encumbrances on the Intellectual Property that would conflict with this assignment.
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Non-Infringement: The Intellectual Property, to the best of Assignor's knowledge, does not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party, including any patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, or other intellectual property rights.
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Disclosure: Assignor has disclosed to Company any claims, litigation, or administrative proceedings that are pending or threatened, which involve the Intellectual Property.
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Authority: Assignor has the full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to make the assignment and representations and warranties set forth herein.
These representations and warranties survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.
E. Future Inventions and Works
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Assignment of Future Inventions: Assignor agrees that all inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, reports, and similar or related information that Assignor creates, invents, makes, conceives, or reduces to practice, either alone or jointly with others, during the term of Assignor's engagement with Company, that relate to the business or contemplated business, research, or development of Company, shall be disclosed to Company and are hereby assigned to Company.
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Assistance: Assignor agrees to assist Company, at Company's request and expense, in every proper way, during and after the term of Assignor's engagement with Company, to secure Company's rights in the inventions and any copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any and all countries, including the disclosure to Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments, and all other instruments that Company deems necessary.
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Pre-Existing Obligations: Assignor represents that Assignor has no pre-existing obligations in conflict with this Agreement or with Assignor's obligations to Company under this Agreement.
F. Confidentiality
Assignor acknowledges that during the engagement with Company, Assignor may have access to and become acquainted with various confidential information, including but not limited to, technical information, business strategies, customer details, and other sensitive material that is owned by Company and is considered Confidential Information. Assignor agrees to keep all Confidential Information in strict confidence and not to disclose or use it except as necessary to perform Assignor's obligations under this Agreement or as expressly authorized by Company in writing. This confidentiality obligation shall survive the termination of this Agreement indefinitely.
G. Dispute Resolution
In the event of any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement, the parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute through good faith negotiation. If the dispute cannot be resolved by negotiation, the parties agree to submit the dispute to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall take place in the State of California, and the decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding upon the parties. The prevailing party in any arbitration or legal proceeding related to this Agreement shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
H. Amendment
This Agreement may only be amended, modified, or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each party hereto. No other method of amendment or modification shall be valid or binding upon the parties.
I. Waiver
No waiver by any party of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. The waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
J. Severability
If any term or provision of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
K. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein, superseding all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, regarding such subject matter.
Signatures
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement as of the Effective Date first above written.
[Assignor's Signature]
[Assignor's Printed Name]
[Date]
[Company's Signature]
[Your Company Name]
[Date]