Intellectual Property & Technology Licensing
Put Your Intellectual Property to Work
Intellectual Property & Technology Licensing Strategy Attorney
Protecting Proprietary Assets for Companies in the Omaha Metro & Beyond
Intellectual property can be among a company’s most valuable assets. Software, proprietary technology, trademarks, copyrighted materials, trade secrets, business processes, content, data, and other innovations can distinguish a business from its competitors and create opportunities for growth. Protecting those assets, however, is only part of the equation. Businesses also need clear agreements governing who owns intellectual property, who may use it, and under what conditions.
At Wray Law TCP, we help businesses address intellectual property and technology matters from a practical, commercial perspective. Based in Glenwood, Iowa, and serving clients nationwide, we work with companies to protect important assets, structure licensing relationships, negotiate technology agreements, and address intellectual property issues that arise throughout business operations.
Ownership questions can become complicated quickly. A company may hire an independent contractor to develop software, collaborate with another organization on a new product, license technology from a vendor, allow a customer to use proprietary materials, or incorporate third-party content into its services. Without appropriate agreements, the parties may have very different expectations about who owns the resulting work and how it can be used.
We help clients address these questions before they become disputes. Our approach begins with understanding the asset, the business relationship, and the client's objectives so that the legal structure supports how the company intends to use, protect, and commercialize its intellectual property.
Call Wray Law TCP at 888-334-8185 to schedule a consultation with a lawyer today.
Licensing Technology Without Losing Sight of the Details
Technology licensing allows businesses to obtain or provide rights to valuable technology without necessarily transferring ownership. A well-structured license can create new revenue opportunities, support strategic partnerships, provide access to critical tools, and establish clear boundaries around how intellectual property may be used.
The details matter.
Licensing agreements may address scope of use, ownership, permitted users, geographic restrictions, sublicensing, exclusivity, fees and royalties, confidentiality, warranties, indemnification, limitations of liability, data rights, security obligations, termination, and post-termination responsibilities.
Software and cloud-based technology can introduce additional considerations. Software-as-a-Service agreements, enterprise technology contracts, application programming interface arrangements, development agreements, and other technology transactions may combine intellectual property licensing with service obligations, data processing, privacy requirements, cybersecurity standards, and performance commitments.
We assist businesses on both sides of these relationships. A company acquiring technology may need to understand whether the agreement provides sufficient rights to use the product as intended and what happens to its information if the relationship ends. A company licensing its own technology may need to protect ownership, control permitted uses, preserve confidential information, and establish appropriate restrictions on copying, modification, distribution, or reverse engineering.
Federal intellectual property laws provide important protections in this area. Copyright law can protect qualifying original works such as software code, written materials, graphics, and other creative works. Trademark law protects certain names, logos, and identifiers used to distinguish goods and services. Patent law may protect qualifying inventions, while trade secret laws can protect valuable confidential information when appropriate measures are taken to preserve its secrecy.
Licensing agreements determine how many of these rights can be commercially used by another party, making careful drafting and negotiation an important part of protecting their value.
Connecting IP, Technology & Business Strategy
Intellectual property rarely exists separately from the rest of a business. It can affect company formation, employment and contractor relationships, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, financing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, privacy, and strategic partnerships.
That interconnectedness is central to our approach.
Wray Law TCP can assist with intellectual property licensing, software and technology agreements, SaaS contracts, development agreements, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, intellectual property ownership provisions, technology procurement, vendor agreements, data-related provisions, commercial transactions, and intellectual property considerations in mergers and acquisitions.
New technologies are creating additional questions for businesses. Artificial intelligence, for example, can complicate traditional concepts of intellectual property ownership and licensing. Businesses using generative AI may need to consider what information is entered into a platform, how outputs can be used, whether providers retain rights to submitted data, and how AI-related terms affect confidential or proprietary information.
Open-source software can create another layer of considerations. Different open-source licenses impose different conditions on use, modification, attribution, and distribution. Businesses developing or acquiring software should understand which third-party components are incorporated into their products and what obligations may accompany them.
Attorney Bruce Wray approaches these matters with an understanding that intellectual property protection should support the larger commercial objective. An agreement that protects an asset but prevents a business from using it effectively may not accomplish the client's goal. Likewise, a commercially attractive deal can create unnecessary long-term risk if ownership and licensing rights are not clearly defined.
Our goal is to find the appropriate balance: protecting valuable rights while helping businesses use technology and intellectual property to build relationships, enter markets, develop products, and pursue growth.
From Glenwood, Iowa, Wray Law TCP provides business-focused intellectual property and technology licensing counsel to clients nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an intellectual property license?
An intellectual property license gives another party permission to use certain intellectual property under defined conditions without necessarily transferring ownership. The agreement typically establishes what may be used, how it may be used, for how long, and what restrictions apply.
What is the difference between assigning and licensing intellectual property?
An assignment generally transfers ownership of intellectual property rights, while a license generally allows another party to use those rights while ownership remains with the original owner. The appropriate structure depends on the transaction and business objectives.
Who owns intellectual property created by an independent contractor?
Paying someone to create work does not always mean the hiring business automatically owns every intellectual property right in that work. Appropriate written agreements can be important for clearly establishing ownership and permitted uses.
What should a technology licensing agreement include?
Terms vary by transaction, but agreements may address ownership, scope of permitted use, fees, confidentiality, data rights, intellectual property protections, warranties, security, liability, termination, and what happens when the relationship ends.
Can Wray Law TCP/IP review SaaS and software agreements?
Yes. We can assist with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating software, SaaS, technology licensing, development, vendor, and related commercial agreements from a business and technology perspective.
How can intellectual property affect a merger or acquisition?
Intellectual property can represent significant value—and potential risk—in a transaction. Due diligence may examine ownership, licenses, contractor and employee agreements, third-party technology, open-source software, disputes, restrictions, and whether the company has the rights necessary to operate its business.
Ready to Talk Business?
Whether you’re forming, growing, negotiating, or navigating a complex business matter, experienced legal guidance can help you move forward with confidence. Call Wray Law TCP at 888-334-8185 today to speak with an attorney about your business.