Immediate / work-for-hire IP assignment clauses, explained

Broad language assigning everything you create, sometimes including things you made before the engagement or that you reuse across clients. 'Work made for hire' plus a catch-all assignment can sweep in your templates, libraries, and methods.

Market standard

The client owns the specific custom deliverables. The freelancer keeps ownership of pre-existing materials, general skills, know-how, and reusable tools, and grants the client a license to use them as embedded in the deliverables.

Red flags

Assignment of 'all intellectual property conceived during the term', not limited to the deliverables
No carve-out for pre-existing IP or background tools
Assignment of 'derivatives and improvements' to the freelancer's own tools
Moral rights waiver with no portfolio carve-out

Suggested wording

The assignment in Section X applies only to the Deliverables. It excludes the Provider's Pre-Existing Materials, tools, libraries, and know-how, which the Provider retains and licenses to the Client on a perpetual, non-exclusive basis to the extent embedded in the Deliverables.

Check your actual contract

Paste your agreement into Gig Clause for a full clarity score, every flagged clause, and copy-paste suggested wording. Free, no account needed.

Review my contract

Is this normal in…

Not legal advice. Gig Clause is software, not a law firm or a professional service, no attorney reviews, drafts, or is otherwise involved in anything it produces. It automatically highlights common contract issues and suggests negotiation language. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For decisions with significant financial or legal consequences, consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. Clause standards vary by industry and location and change over time.