What is IP Assignment?

Definition

IP assignment is short for Intellectual Property Assignment. It transfers ownership of creative work, code, designs, inventions, and other IP you produce to the other party. In freelance and employment contracts, this clause determines who owns the output of your labor after the engagement ends. The scope varies widely: a narrow clause assigns only deliverables produced under the contract, while a broad clause can claim ownership of anything you create during the contract term, regardless of whether it relates to the engagement. For example, if your freelance web development contract includes a broad IP assignment, custom code libraries you built for your own reuse across clients could be claimed by that single client. Watch for assignments that do not carve out your pre-existing tools, frameworks, and background IP. See the full Intellectual Property Assignment entry for detailed guidance on protecting your work.

Related Articles

Related Terms

Found this in your contract?

Upload it for a full AI analysis. Get a risk score, every flagged clause quoted and explained, and a clear sign-or-walk-away recommendation in under a minute.