Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement Template
Prepared for:
[Client.FirstName][Client.LastName]
[Client.Company]
Created by:
[Sender.FirstName][Sender.LastName]
[Sender.Company]
As a condition of my employment with Company, its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (hereinafter, the “Company”), and in consideration of my employment with the Company and my receipt of the compensation now and hereafter paid to me by Company, I agree to the following:
1. INVENTIONS RETAINED & LICENSED.
I have attached hereto, as Exhibit A, a list describing all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, improvements, and trade secrets which were made by me prior to my employment with the Company (collectively referred to as “Prior Inventions”), which belong to me, which relate to the Company’s proposed business, products or research and development, and which are not assigned to the Company hereunder; or, if no such list is attached, I represent that there are no such Prior Inventions.
If in the course of my employment with the Company, I incorporate into a Company product, process, or machine a Prior Invention owned by me or in which I have an interest, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use, and sell such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process, or machine.
2. ASSIGNMENT OF INVENTIONS.
I agree that I will promptly make full written disclosure to the Company, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Company, and hereby assign to the Company, or its designee, all my right, title, and interest in and to any and
all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements, designs, discoveries, ideas, trademarks, or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which I may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time I am in the employ of the Company (collectively referred to as “Inventions”), except as provided in “Exception to Assignments” below.
I further acknowledge that all original works of authorship which are made by me (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of my employment with the Company and which are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act.
I understand and agree that the decision whether or not to commercialize or market any invention developed by me solely or jointly with others is within the Company’ sole discretion and for the Company’s sole benefit and that no royalty will be due to me as a result of the Company’s efforts to commercialize or market any such invention.
3. MAINTENANCE OF INVENTIONS RECORDS.
I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions made by me (solely or jointly with others) during the term of my employment with the Company. The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other format that may be specified by the Company. The records will be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.
4. PATENT & COPYRIGHT REGISTRATIONS.
I agree to assist the Company, or its designee, at the Company’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Company’s rights in the Inventions and any copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments
which the Company shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns, and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions, and any copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto.
I further agree that my obligation to execute or cause to be executed, when it is in my power to do so, any such instrument or papers shall continue after the termination of this Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement. If the Company is unable because of my mental or physical incapacity or for any other reason to secure my signature to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States or foreign patents or copyright registrations covering Inventions or original works of authorship assigned to the Company as above, then I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in my behalf and stead to execute and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of letters patent or copyright registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me.
5. RETURNING COMPANY DOCUMENTS.
I agree that, at the time of leaving the employ of the Company, I will deliver to the Company (and will not keep in my possession, re-create, or deliver to anyone else) any and all devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, algorithms, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed by me pursuant to my employment with the Company or otherwise belonging to the Company, its successors or assigns.
6. REPRESENTATIONS.
I agree to execute any proper oath or verify any proper document required to carry out the terms of this Agreement. I represent that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my employment by the Company.
I have not entered into, and I agree I will not enter into, any oral or written agreement in conflict herewith.
7. EQUITABLE REMEDIES.
I agree that it would be impossible or inadequate to measure and calculate the company’s damages from any breach of the covenants set forth herein.
Accordingly, I agree that if I breach any of such provisions, the company will have available, in addition to any other right or remedy available, the right to obtain an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction restraining such breach or threatened breach and to specific performance of any such provision of this agreement.
I further agree that no bond or other security shall be required in obtaining such equitable relief and I hereby consent to the issuance of such injunction and to the ordering of specific performance.
8. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of [State]. I hereby expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts with jurisdiction in County, State for any lawsuit filed there against me by the Company arising from or relating to this Agreement.
9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
This Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and me relating to the subject matter herein and merges all prior discussions between us.
No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this agreement, will be effective unless in writing signed by the party to be charged. Any subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary, or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.
10. SEVERABILITY.
If one or more of the provisions in this Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement are deemed void by law, then the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
11. SUCCESSORS & ASSIGNS.
This Agreement will be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators, and other legal representatives and will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.
I acknowledge that I have carefully read the foregoing intellectual property assignment agreement, I am satisfied that I understand it completely, and I agree to be bound by its terms and conditions.
AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
[Sender.Company]
Signature
MM/DD/YYYY
[Sender.FirstName][Sender.LastName]
[Client.Company]
Signature
MM/DD/YYYY
[Client.FirstName][Client.LastName]
EXHIBIT A
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP
[Title], [Date], [Identifying Number] or [Brief Description]