Contract templates · Hiring & Employment
Employment laws give employers some ownership of work made in the job, but the edges are blurry: side projects, work done at home, ideas sketched before joining. This agreement draws the line.
An employee confidentiality and IP assignment agreement requires an employee to keep business information confidential and assigns to the employer the inventions, code, designs and content they create in the course of employment. Investors and acquirers routinely ask to see these for every technical or creative hire.
When you need one
- Any employee who sees confidential information or creates work product
- Tech, design, content and product teams
Key clauses in a Employee Confidentiality & IP Assignment Agreement
These are the clauses the template includes, and what each one does for you.
Definition of confidential information
Defines what counts as confidential, from customer lists to source code and pricing.
Non-disclosure obligations
Prohibits sharing or using that information outside the job, during and after employment.
Assignment of inventions and work product
Transfers ownership of inventions and work product made in the job to the employer.
Prior inventions schedule
Lets the employee list pre-existing inventions so they stay theirs and there is no later argument.
Moral rights waiver
Waives moral rights, such as the right to be named as author, where local law allows.
Return of materials
Requires all materials and copies to be handed back when employment ends.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Only getting it signed from engineers when designers, marketers and contractors create IP too.
- Asking existing staff to sign without any consideration, which can weaken it in some US states.
- Claiming inventions unrelated to the business made on personal time, which some states prohibit.
How to use the template
Download the Word file
Buy the Employee Confidentiality & IP Assignment Agreement template on My Contract Lawyer and download the editable .docx straight after checkout.
Fill in the brackets
Add names, dates, fees, scope and governing law, and delete optional clauses that do not apply to your deal.
Check it against local law
Rules differ between US states, the UK and EU countries, especially for employment, consumer and property contracts. Have a lawyer review high-value or unusual deals.
Sign and keep a copy
Sign on paper or with any e-signature tool, and store the final version where both sides can find it.
Get the Employee Confidentiality & IP Assignment Agreement template
Lawyer-drafted and ready to edit in Word, Google Docs or Pages. One-time payment of $19, no subscription, instant download from My Contract Lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need this if the employment contract already has an IP clause?
Not always, but a standalone agreement is cleaner for diligence and covers staff hired on short offer letters.
Does it cover contractors?
No. Contractors usually need an IP assignment in their contractor agreement, because employment-law defaults do not apply to them.
What is a prior inventions schedule?
A list where the employee records what they owned before starting, so it is excluded from the assignment.
Related contract templates
Templates are a starting point, not legal advice, and using one does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Contract law differs between countries and states, so check the finished document against local law.