IP rights sale agreement

About this intellectual property sale agreement

This a heavy weight agreement for sale of rights to an invention or technological innovation. You may be an individual or represent a company. Your work may be applicable in one industry or many. It could be anything. You want to sell all rights to a major manufacturer. Sale limited to a particular market or industry. You probably intend to sell rights for use in other industries or to manufacture it for your own use in your industry. We have named the subject of this product “Excalibur”. You can rename it or give it an abstract legal name like “Licensed Product”.

Example of use 1: writer of software game for WXYZ-Box sells game to console maker. Writer has licences from third parties for software and graphics incorporated in the game, so he cannot sell what he does not own. Those elements must therefore be sub-licensed. Writer has also invented and written a number of special ways to make animals and people move. He wants to keep those and give only a licence, so that he can use them in future games.

Example 2: a writer of social network software system sells it to BigCo plc to exploit. Writer has also invented clever way for users to communicate. He wants to keep that and give only a licence, so that he can use it in other applications.

Example 3: defence systems supplier sells navigation system for unmanned aerial vehicle to manufacturer and licenses certain parts of the platform which it must retain or which it licenses from a third party.

Your product or device or invention relies to some extent on a support system, no matter large or small, which you use in other applications or which you intend to keep for other uses or maybe in common with licensees in other industries. That requires a licence because you cannot sell it outright. Maybe you will upgrade it from time to time. The agreement provides for that limited licence. Terms are suggested, so that you can refine them.

There are two reasons why you might wish to protect this additional material more strongly:

• First, it may have far wider application and you will wish to use it in the same market for other applications, or in other products and other markets;
• The second reason is that you may not own all the supporting material. You may yourself use some IP which he has licensed to you from others. The best he can do with that IP is to make sure you are allowed to sub-license it, then do just that.

This agreement covers whatever intellectual property rights you decide to sell. The description and specification is up you to agree with the buyer. It provides for a single and final payment. Once sold, the buyer can do what he likes with your invention or computer game.

This agreement provides the complete legal framework for what may appear to be a complicated deal. The Net Lawman modular structure in plain English takes you smoothly through the detail of a document of nearly 5,000 words.

Key features

• Professionally drawn, tough law
• Easy to edit (as always with Net Lawman documents)
• Thorough coverage of legal areas
• Practical, alternative business provisions
• No requirement for you to be your own lawyer

Alternatives to this sale of rights agreement

Net Lawman offers around 20 licence agreements and assignments relating to intellectual property in addition to those in website terms and conditions.

You can find the full selection at:

• Basic contracts for creative work
• High level IP licence and sale agreements
• Merchandising agreements
• Assignment, sale and transfer
• IP licences by creator or owner
• Software and other development contracts

Contents of this intellectual property sale agreement

Here is a list of the major subjects covered:

• Definitions and interpretation
• Warranties and understandings
• The assignment deal
• Licence of supporting IP
• Use of third party IP: alternative options
• Third party infringement
• Continuing research, improvement and product updates
• Confidentiality
• Disclaimer
• Other matters relating to enforcement and other legal issues

Over 1,050 words of helpful drafting notes.