A university is working with a software company to develop a new research software package.

When jointly developing software, intellectual property (IP) rights are a critical consideration. CIPS stresses that procurement professionals must clarify:

Ownership of developed IP

Rights to use, modify, or commercialise the software

Licensing arrangements after contract termination

Before terminating the relationship, the university must ensure it retains the necessary IP rights to continue using or developing the software, or it may lose access to a key asset.

Security, employment, and financial rights are relevant but secondary compared to IP ownership in a collaborative software development arrangement.

L4M6 Reference:

Learning Outcome 4: Understand legal and contractual aspects of supplier relationships

Topic: Intellectual property in collaborative relationships

CIPS L4M6 Study Guide – Contractual considerations and IP protection