Intellectual Property (IP)
Legal rights protecting creations such as inventions, brands, designs and code.
IP includes patents, trademarks, copyright, design rights and trade secrets. For startups, ensuring IP is owned by the company (not individuals or former employers) is critical. Investors check that all founder and contractor IP has been properly assigned to the company.
Examples
A startup files a trademark for its brand name. — Founders sign IP assignment agreements transferring code to the company.
How it relates to The Startup Foundry
Clean IP ownership is vital in due diligence. The Foundry’s Deal Room helps you organise IP documentation for investors.