# Intellectual Property Clause

Source: https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/propriete-intellectuelle

# Intellectual Property Clause

Determines who owns IP created or used under the contract, and how background and foreground IP are treated.

## Ce que c'est

An IP clause allocates ownership of intellectual property: pre-existing "background" IP each party brings, and "foreground" IP created during the work. It states whether deliverables are assigned to the customer or licensed, and handles moral rights and third-party materials.

## Pourquoi c'est important

IP is often the most valuable asset a contract touches. If ownership is unclear, the customer may not be able to use what it paid for, or the supplier may lose reusable assets. Dutch law requires a written deed for transfer of most IP rights.

## Comment l'appliquer

- Distinguish background IP (retained) from foreground IP (assigned or licensed).
- Use a written assignment deed where the law requires it for transfer.
- Address moral rights, third-party and open-source components.
- Grant the non-owner a licence wide enough to use the deliverables in practice.

## Exemple de formulation

> All intellectual property rights in the Deliverables created under this Agreement shall transfer to the Customer upon full payment, while each party retains ownership of its pre-existing background IP.

## Conseils de négociation

- • Suppliers should retain reusable tools and methods, granting only a deliverable licence.
- • Customers paying for bespoke work should insist on full assignment of foreground IP.

## Pièges courants

- • Relying on a clause that "assigns" IP without the written deed Dutch law requires.
- • Ignoring open-source licence terms embedded in delivered software.

### Comment Contracko aide

Contracko's AI review extracts IP ownership and licence terms from your development, agency and M&A contracts and flags clauses that purport to assign copyright without the required written deed. All IP-bearing contracts are stored in one searchable repository, making it straightforward to audit which agreements transfer foreground IP and which merely grant a licence, giving your team a clear picture of what you actually own.

## Références juridiques

- [Aw art. 2 Copyright Act: transfer requires a deed (Auteurswet) Droit néerlandais](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001886)
- [BW 3:84 Assignment of property rights (levering) Droit néerlandais](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005291)

Sauf mention contraire, les références renvoient au droit néerlandais (Burgerlijk Wetboek, le Code civil néerlandais) ; les instruments de l'UE tels que le RGPD s'appliquent dans toute l'UE. Il s'agit d'informations générales, pas de conseils juridiques. D'autres juridictions traitent ces concepts différemment. Vérifiez le texte en vigueur et votre situation avec un avocat qualifié.

## Pertinent pour

[Logiciels & SaaS](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/logiciel-saas)[Agences marketing et créatives](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/agences)[Cinéma & TV](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/cinema-television)[Gaming & esport](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/jeux-video-esport)[Musique](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/industrie-musicale)

## Clauses associées

- [License Grant Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/concession-de-licence)
- [Confidentiality Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/clause-de-confidentialite)
- [Indemnification Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/clause-indemnisation)

## Termes associés

- [Intellectual property](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/propriete-intellectuelle)
- [License](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/licence)
- [Assignment](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/cession)

### Ne manquez plus jamais une échéance de contrat

- L'IA repère les dates de renouvellement et de préavis
- Les risques et obligations sont mis en évidence automatiquement
- Les rappels vous aident à agir avant que les dates ne filent

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Conforme au RGPD. Chiffré. Jamais utilisé pour l'entraînement de l'IA.

## Foire aux questions

Questions courantes sur cette clause.

- **Q:** Does a contract clause alone transfer copyright in the Netherlands?
  **A:** Not by itself for copyright. Transfer requires a written deed (akte), so a clause should be backed by, or take the form of, such a deed.

- **Q:** What is the difference between background and foreground IP?
  **A:** Background IP pre-exists the project and is usually retained; foreground IP is created during the work and is the IP whose ownership the clause allocates.

- **Q:** What IP risks do open-source components embedded in deliverables create?
  **A:** Copyleft licences such as GPL may require the entire codebase to be released under the same licence, which can undermine proprietary ownership. Always obtain a software bill of materials from the supplier.

- **Q:** What happens to IP developed before full payment?
  **A:** Many IP clauses make transfer conditional on full payment. If the customer has not paid in full, the IP may remain with the supplier until payment, so monitor payment milestones carefully.

- **Q:** Can moral rights be waived in the Netherlands?
  **A:** Partially. Under the Auteurswet an author can waive some moral rights, such as the right to object to alterations, but the right to be named as author cannot be fully excluded.

## Ne manquez plus jamais une clause risquée

Contracko examine automatiquement chaque contrat à la recherche de cette clause et des obligations qu'elle crée.

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