Software licensing, IP assignment and source-code ownership
What this page covers
This section covers software licensing, IP assignment, and source-code ownership issues that commonly arise in technology businesses.
It is designed for teams that need to clarify licensing models, ownership of code, open-source use, customer commitments, and related contract terms.
Use the pages below to go directly to the topic that best fits your situation, including assignment agreements, open-source compliance, license terms, disputes, and source-code ownership.
What to choose
- Choose an IP assignment or source-code ownership page if your main question is who owns code created by founders, employees, contractors, or other contributors.
- Choose an open-source compliance page if you need to review open-source or third-party software use and how it affects commercial distribution and customer commitments.
- Choose a software license or dispute page if you are focused on license terms, usage rights, customer obligations, or a disagreement about what the contract allows.
Where to go next
The pages in this section break a broad software IP and licensing topic into more specific issues, so you can focus on the agreement, ownership question, or dispute that matters most.
You can go directly to pages on IP assignment agreements, open-source license compliance, software license agreements, software licensing counsel, license disputes, and source-code ownership agreements.
What matters
- Questions in this area often involve uncertainty about who owns code, missing written assignment terms, or an unclear chain of title for core product assets.
- Use of open-source and third-party software can also raise questions about compatibility with commercial plans, licensing terms, and customer commitments.
- These matters often require clear documentation and coordination across product, engineering, and legal teams when ownership and licensing terms need to be defined.