An intellectual property clause is a section (i.e., paragraph) of an employment contract that grants one of the parties to the employment relationship, typically the employer, ownership of intellectual property created by the other party, typically the employee.

Intellectual property ("IP") is essentially anything resulting from an employment relationship that can be copyrighted, trademarked, patented, licensed, etc. Potentially, anything created by the employee can be considered IP, but the likelihood for IP is larger where the employee was hired to work on something new itself.

Employers employing employees who develop new things should incorporate an IP clause in their employment contracts to protect their investments. IP clauses are most relevant to software development jobs or where the design and production of other new things occur in the employment relationship.

goHeather's employment contract templates have the option to insert an IP clause into the employment contract.

📃 Make your own employment contract using goHeather here.