What is an IP assignment agreement?

An IP (intellectual property) assignment agreement formally transfers ownership of creative work from one party to another. For freelancers, it's the document that gives your client full ownership of the work you've created for them.

Under Australian copyright law, the creator of a work automatically owns the copyright - even if someone else paid for it. That means without an IP assignment, you technically still own the logo, website, or copy you created for your client.

When should you use one?

When your client needs to fully own the creative work - not just use it under licence. Common situations include logo and brand identity projects, custom software development, original illustrations, and bespoke content.

What's included

Description of work - exactly which creative works are being assigned. Be specific about what's included and excluded.

Assignment clause - the formal transfer of all IP rights, including copyright, from you to the client.

Moral rights - under Australian law, creators have moral rights (attribution, integrity) that can't be assigned but can be consented to.

Payment trigger - IP transfers only on full payment. Protects your work until you've been paid.

Pre-existing IP - any tools, frameworks, or templates you created before this project that you're licensing (not assigning) to the client.

Warranties - you confirm the work is original and doesn't infringe on anyone else's IP.