Inventions Assignment Agreement

An inventions assignment agreement is a typical feature of an independent contractor or employee agreement where the worker agrees to assign any intellectual property rights arising from the worker’s services to the company.

Employees typically see these provisions in a Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (CIIAA) that is separate from their offer letter or employment agreement. Independent contractors typically see these provisions in their independent contractor agreement. Founders typically see these provisions in both an initial intellectual property assignment agreement entered into at the time their company is formed as well as in a CIIAA or independent contractor agreement entered into in connection with their ongoing service relationship.

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Glossary: Noncompetition Agreement
A noncompetition agreement provides that an employee cannot engage in business activities that compete against the company at which he or she works or worked.
Glossary: Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreements (CIIAA)
Legal agreements signed by company employees sign to secure the intellectual property rights to the employees' inventions.
Glossary: Assignment of IP
The assignment of intellectual property (IP) refers to the process by which ownership of work product created for a company by an employee or consultant is transferred to the entity.
Who Owns What: Assignment and Ownership of Patents and Applications
The ABCs of CIIAAs: Protecting Employee-Generated IP