IP Co-Ownership Agreement Template

What is a iP co-ownership agreement?

Joint ownership of intellectual property happens more often than people plan for: two companies invent something together, co-founders write the code before the company exists, or two creators make a work together. Without an agreement, the default rules depend on the country and the type of IP, and they can be surprising. In some places one co-owner can license freely without the other; in others neither can do anything without the other's consent.

This template records the co-owned IP and how it came about, each owner's percentage share, and whether each may use it in its own business, with or without paying the other. It sets the licensing rule, from both owners' consent to non-exclusive licences by either, names a lead owner for licensing and filings, and shares income and filing, maintenance and enforcement costs in proportion or equally, with an opt-out if an owner won't pay its part. It covers enforcement against infringers together or alone, a right of first refusal before either sells its share, confidentiality, and recording the agreement where registration is needed.

When to use a iP co-ownership agreement

• Two companies that jointly filed a patent application after a collaboration
• A university and an industry partner sharing a design right
• Two developers who co-wrote software outside any company
• Co-authors of an online course deciding how to license it
• A brand and a designer who jointly own a product design

What you fill in

18 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: owner a, owner b.

What the iP co-ownership agreement covers

1. The co-owned IP and the shares
2. Using and licensing the IP
3. Income and costs
4. Enforcement
5. Transfers
6. Confidentiality, term and general

Using the iP co-ownership agreement, step by step

1 Describe the IP

Choose the type, describe it precisely with registration or application numbers, and say how it came to be jointly owned.

2 Set shares and use

Enter each owner's percentage, choose the rule for each owner's own use, the licensing rule, and the lead owner.

3 Agree money

Choose how licence income and costs are shared, and how many days an owner has to answer a cost request before the opt-out applies.

4 Set transfers and send

Enter the right of first refusal period, add the governing law and send to the other owner.

Tips before you send it

• Co-ownership rules differ a lot between countries and types of IP. If the IP is registered in several countries, take local advice on the important ones.
• Name the IP precisely, with application or registration numbers, so there's no argument about what's covered.
• Decide improvements upfront. The template keeps each owner's solo improvements separate unless you agree in writing to add them.
• Record the agreement with the patent or design office where that's needed to protect the shares against third parties.

IP co-ownership agreement: frequently asked questions

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This template is a general starting point, not legal advice. Laws differ between countries and states — have a lawyer review the agreement for your situation before you rely on it. Page last reviewed 2026-10-25.