To promote innovation and creativity, the law offers individuals and businesses ways to safeguard their intellectual property (IP).

Protecting IP can be achieved through the registration of patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Another effective approach is intellectual property agreements that can be enforced legally.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of intellectual property, its types, ownership, considerations for IP contracts, and how contract automation can simplify the creation of IP agreements.

What is Intellectual Property?

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), intellectual property refers to “creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.”

These intangible assets form the foundation for tangible products and services.

For example, a cybersecurity firm may develop a new algorithm that outperforms all competing virus protection solutions. This algorithm, an intangible asset, is the firm’s intellectual property.  It can generate revenue by powering a range of products and services, benefiting the firm and its clients.

IP also has significant monetary value as businesses can sell or license it to other companies who pay to use the IP. To illustrate, in April 2024, the value of US IP exports was approximately 12 billion.

However, IP theft remains a pertinent issue; the 2017 IP Commission Report estimated annual US IP losses to be between $225 and $600 billion.

Types of Intellectual Property

To protect the interests of individuals and businesses, the law recognizes the following types of IP:

Patents

A patent, typically granted by a government agency, gives exclusive rights to the inventor for an improvement, process, design, or machine. In the US, the duration of a patent can vary from 14 to 20 years.

Google is the world’s dominant search engine. Over the years, it has developed and patented numerous algorithms and techniques to improve the efficiency and accuracy of its search.

Copyrights

Copyrights safeguard original works of authorship, including music, film, literature, and software. Only the author has the legal right to use, copy, or distribute their work unless a licensing agreement permits others to do so.

Books and music are common examples of original material protected by copyright.

Trademarks

Trademarks protect symbols, names, and slogans that differentiate businesses or products.

Famous examples include McDonald’s Golden Arches and Apple’s iconic logo—a stylized apple with a bite taken from the side.

Trade secrets

Trade secrets protect confidential business information, such as formulas, practices, processes, and designs, that give a competitive edge.

The Coca-Cola Company’s recipe for its flagship beverage and Google’s complex algorithms for ranking search results are classic examples of trade secrets.

The following table provides a concise summary of the types of IP:

Table 1: The different types of IP

Ownership of Intellectual Property

Intellectual property ownership refers to the legal rights individuals or businesses hold over creations used in commerce. These rights provide an incentive to invest time, effort, and money into IP creation, as owners can financially benefit from innovation and creativity.

IP ownership can be assigned or licensed, allowing individuals and businesses to use these assets for competitive advantage, revenue generation, and market positioning.

Beyond patents, copyrights, and trademarks, IP agreements also establish and document IP ownership, enabling owners to capitalize on their intellectual assets.

What are Intellectual Property Agreements?

An intellectual property agreement is a contract between the IP owner and a second party that outlines the rights regarding ownership, use, and transfer of intellectual property.

These agreements are  essential in commerce because they protect the owner’s rights and at the same time allow others to benefit from the creation of new and innovative ideas, products, and services.

Types of Intellectual Property Contracts

Here are some common examples of intellectual property contracts:

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)

NDAs protect confidential information shared during formal discussions or negotiations. In addition to IP, NDAs are used to protect information related to customers, finances, and operations. Businesses often use NDAs when dealing with new hires, contractors, partners, and potential investors.

The Coca-Cola Company uses NDAs, among other measures, to protect its 100-year-old recipe from competitors.

Licensing agreements

Licensing agreements permit other parties to use an IP owner’s assets under specific terms and conditions, including royalties (compensation). 

In 2020, Daiichi Sankyo, a Japanese drugmaker, granted AstraZeneca ex-Japan rights to a cancer-targeting drug through a licensing agreement, with Daiichi set to receive $6 billion as compensation over two years.

Technology transfer agreements

These are a type of licensing agreement used by research institutions, universities, or inventors to transfer IP to companies that can commercialize it. They also contribute to economic growth and development in regions lacking advanced technology and to formalize collaborations between entities.

IBM and Samsung, for instance, have signed several technology transfer agreements, including a 2011 cross-license for their respective patent portfolios.

Joint venture agreements

Businesses enter joint ventures (JV) to pool resources and accomplish a specific goal, such as developing a new product or service.

IP owned by either party plays a key role, so JV agreements must define the use and ownership of existing and newly created IP.

In 2020, Novartis and Molecular Partners signed a JV agreement to develop COVID-19 therapies, combining the respective IP to combat the global pandemic.

Franchise agreements

Franchise agreements allow franchisees to operate a business using the franchisor’s name, trademark, and business model.

Fast food chains like KFC and Mcdonald's are prime examples, with franchisees paying for access to food recipes, logos, trademarks, and operating systems.

Things to Consider When Creating Intellectual Property Agreements

IP agreements are complex documents; mistakes and omissions can compromise IP rights, lead to legal disputes, and cause financial losses. Consider the following essential elements of a valid contract to protect your interests and defend them.

Ownership

Clarity regarding IP ownership is a crucial aspect of any IP contract.

The agreement must clearly define the intellectual property, state who owns it, and specify the ownership of developments or improvements made during a collaboration or business partnership.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is another key element in IP contracts. Agreements must clearly outline the requirements for handling sensitive information and detail how long confidentiality obligations last, which may exceed the duration of agreements. 

Rights and obligations

The rights and obligations of both parties should be clearly identified to safeguard their interests and help avoid disputes. This ensures that each party understands their responsibilities under the agreement.

Financial terms and conditions

Since financial gain is often the primary objective of IP agreements, the contract must specify term related to payments including upfront fees, ongoing royalty payments due to licensors, payment schedules, and penalties for non-compliance.

Duration and termination

IP agreements should include clauses about the duration of the contract, conditions for renewal or extension, and the circumstances under which either party can terminate the agreement.

Legal compliance

Agreements must comply with relevant laws and regulations, including those related to intellectual property, competition, and data protection.

Automate Intellectual Property Agreements with Docupilot

Contract automation with Docupilot streamlines the creation of IP contracts, saving time and reducing the chances of errors.

Follow this step-by-step process to generate intellectual property agreements efficiently with Docupilot.

Step 1: Log in to Docupilot

Log in to Docupilot with your credentials.

Step 2: Create or upload a template

Click on the ‘Create Template’ button. 

Now, you have three options:

• Click on ‘Online Builder’ to create a contract template from scratch.
• Click on ‘PDF’ or ‘DOCX’ to upload an existing template in the respective file format.
• Click on ‘Pick From Gallery’ to use a template from the Docupilot library.

Once your template is loaded, you can add static and dynamic content, and apply formatting.

Static content includes text, images, and tables.

You can use merge fields to add dynamic content, which is content that is always changing in your document. The format for merge fields is {{company_name}}, {{client.name}}. To fill these fields, you must connect your template to the relevant data source(s).

Step 3: Generate the Intellectual Property Agreement

Once a template is ready, you can test it by clicking the ‘Test’ button.

Docupilot will render a preview of your template, which you can review and edit, if required.

Once satisfied, you can generate the agreement, share it with the client, or store it online.

Parting Thoughts

Intellectual property is a valuable asset and must be protected by legal and other means. IP agreements are essential for safeguarding these assets, but manual contract creation can be time-consuming, prone to errors, and resource-intensive.

Docupilot offers an efficient alternative by automating the contract process. Once templates are set, multiple contracts can be generated instantly. Standard clauses don’t require constant legal reviews, minimizing human error and saving time. This automation allows you to protect your IP without the hassle of manual contract management.

Sign up for a free trial today and experience the ease of legal document automation.