[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":527},["ShallowReactive",2],{"document-employee-authorship-certificate-D536":3},{"document":4,"label":26,"preview":11,"thumb":27,"description":5,"descriptionCustom":6,"apiDescription":5,"pages":8,"extension":10,"parents":28,"breadcrumb":32,"related":38,"customDescModule":176,"customdescription":6,"mdFm":177,"mdProseHtml":526},{"description":5,"descriptionCustom":6,"label":7,"pages":8,"size":9,"extension":10,"preview":11,"thumb":12,"svgFrame":13,"seoMetadata":14,"parents":15,"keywords":25},"EMPLOYEE AUTHORSHIP CERTIFICATE This Employee Authorship Certificate (the \"Agreement\") is made and effective this [Date], BETWEEN: [EMPLOYEE NAME] (the \"Employee\"), an individual with his main address at: [COMPLETE ADDRESS] AND: [YOUR COMPANY NAME] (the \"Company\"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the [State/Province] of [STATE/PROVINCE], with its head office located at: [YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS] TERMS The undersigned Employee of the Company hereby gives these representations and warranties for the purpose of assuring to the Company, and any other parties who may rely hereupon, that the Company has all right, title and interest in certain Proprietary Creations over which ownership is claimed by the Company. The employee specifically intends that the representations and warranties contained herein may be relied upon by any party that is contemplating an acquisition, license, right to distribute, or any other interest in and to any Proprietary Creations covered hereby. NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned Employee hereby represents, warrants, acknowledges, certifies and agrees as follows: That the Employee has carefully considered and investigated each of the representations, warranties and acknowledgments and the factual circumstances involved with each such representations, warranty and acknowledgments set forth herein. That the Employee gives these representations, warranties and acknowledgments with full knowledge and intent that they may and will be relied upon by third parties who are entering or contemplating a potential legal relationship with the Company involving the Proprietary Creations. That the Employee is the author of the Proprietary Creations described in Exhibit \"A\" attached hereto (\"Employee Creations\"); no other party had any input or hand in the conception, development, creations, planning or reduction to practice of the Employee Creations; and the Employee Creations were developed solely by the Employee, on Employee's own time and using the Employee's own materials, during the time spans identified adjacent to the applicable Employee Creation as designated on Exhibit \"A.\" That the Employee was a contributing author of the Proprietary Creations described in Exhibit \"B\" attached hereto (\"Collective Creations\"); only the parties listed in Exhibit \"B\" adjacent to the relevant work had any input or hand in the conception, development, creations, planning or reduction to practice of the Employee Creations; and the Employee's contributions to the Collective Creations were developed solely by Employee, on Employee's own time and using the Employee's own materials, during the time spans identified adjacent to the applicable Employee Creation as designated on Exhibit \"B.\" For purposes hereof, the Employee Creations and the Employee's contributions to the Collective Creations shall be referred to herein as the \"Proprietary Creations.\" ",null,"Employee Authorship Certificate","5",39,"doc","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/1000px/employee-authorship-certificate-D536.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/536.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/svgs/docviewerWebApp1.html?v6#536.xml",{"title":6,"description":6},[16,19,22],{"label":17,"url":18},"Human Resources","/templates/human-resources/",{"label":20,"url":21},"Hire an Employee","/templates/hire-employee/",{"label":23,"url":24},"Legal Agreements","/templates/business-legal-agreements/","employee authorship certificate","Employee Authorship Certificate Template","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/400px/536.png",[29,16,19,22],{"label":30,"url":31},"Templates","/templates/",[33,34,35],{"label":30,"url":31},{"label":23,"url":24},{"label":36,"url":37},"Intellectual Property & Licensing","/templates/intellectual-property-and-licensing/",[39,43,47,51,55,59,63,67,71,75,79,83,87,105,120,135,150,163],{"label":40,"url":41,"thumb":42,"extension":10},"Authorship Certificate","/template/authorship-certificate-D757","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/757.png",{"label":44,"url":45,"thumb":46,"extension":10},"Certificate Of Recognition","/template/certificate-of-recognition-D13512","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/13512.png",{"label":48,"url":49,"thumb":50,"extension":10},"Certificate of Incorporation","/template/certificate-of-incorporation-D1005","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/1005.png",{"label":52,"url":53,"thumb":54,"extension":10},"Certificate of Amendment","/template/certificate-of-amendment-D5147","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/5147.png",{"label":56,"url":57,"thumb":58,"extension":10},"Certificate Of Incumbency","/template/certificate-of-incumbency-D12733","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/12733.png",{"label":60,"url":61,"thumb":62,"extension":10},"Certificate Of Ownership","/template/certificate-of-ownership-D12697","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/12697.png",{"label":64,"url":65,"thumb":66,"extension":10},"Employee Handbook","/template/employee-handbook-D712","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/712.png",{"label":68,"url":69,"thumb":70,"extension":10},"Employee Meal Policy","/template/employee-meal-policy-D13670","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/13670.png",{"label":72,"url":73,"thumb":74,"extension":10},"Employee Rewards Policy","/template/employee-rewards-policy-D13677","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/13677.png",{"label":76,"url":77,"thumb":78,"extension":10},"Employee Termination Policy","/template/employee-termination-policy-D13489","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/13489.png",{"label":80,"url":81,"thumb":82,"extension":10},"Employee Sickness Policy","/template/employee-sickness-policy-D13488","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/13488.png",{"label":84,"url":85,"thumb":86,"extension":10},"Certificate of Corporate Resolution","/template/certificate-of-corporate-resolution-D3","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/3.png",{"description":88,"descriptionCustom":6,"label":89,"pages":90,"size":91,"extension":10,"preview":92,"thumb":93,"svgFrame":94,"seoMetadata":95,"parents":97,"keywords":96,"url":104},"EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - AT WILL EMPLOYEE This Employment Agreement for \"At Will\" Employee (the \"Agreement\") is made and effective this [DATE], BETWEEN: [EMPLOYEE NAME] (the \"Employee\"), an individual with his main address at: [COMPLETE ADDRESS] AND: [YOUR COMPANY NAME] (the \"Corporation\"), an entity organized and existing under the laws of the [State/Province] of [STATE/PROVINCE], with its head office located at: [YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS] RECITALS In consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained and the moneys to be paid hereunder, the Corporation hereby employs the Employee and the Employee hereby agrees to perform services as an employee of the Corporation, on an \"at will\" basis, upon the following terms and conditions: APPOINTMENT The Employee is hereby employed by the Corporation to render such services and to perform such tasks as may be assigned by the Corporation. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, increase or reduce the duties, or modify the title and job description, of the Employee from time to time, and any such increase, reduction or modification shall not be deemed a termination of this Agreement. ACCEPTANCE OF EMPLOYMENT Employee accepts employment with the Corporation upon the terms set forth above and agrees to devote all Employee's time, energy and ability to the interests of the Corporation, and to perform Employee's duties in an efficient, trustworthy and business-like manner. DEVOTION OF TIME TO EMPLOYMENT The Employee shall devote the Employee's best efforts and substantially all of the Employee's working time to performing the duties on behalf of the Corporation. The Employee shall provide services during the hours that are scheduled by the Corporation management. The Employee shall be prompt in reporting to work at the assigned time. NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST Employee shall not engage in any other business while employed by the Corporation. Employee shall not engage in any activity that conflicts with the Employees duties to the Corporation. Employee shall not provide any service or lend any aid or assistance to any party that competes with the services offered by the Corporation. Employee shall not provide any services to clients or prospective clients of the Corporation outside of the provision of services for the Corporation, whether such services are provided with or without compensation or remuneration. CORPORATION PROPERTY Employee acknowledges and agrees that while employed by the Corporation the Employee may be provided with use of computer equipment and other property of the Corporation. The use and possession of the such items shall be subject to any policies, requirements or restrictions established by the Corporation. Such items may only be used in performance of the Employee's duties for the corporation. On request of the Corporation, the Employee shall immediately deliver any such items to the Corporation. Upon termination of employment, Employee shall have the affirmative duty to return any such item to the Corporation whether a request is made or not. The obligation to return Corporation property shall extend and include any and all work product, client property, proprietary rights, intangible property, and all other property of the corporation regardless of the form or medium. COMPENSATION The Corporation shall pay the Employee such hourly compensation as determined by the Corporation. Payment shall be at the same time as the Corporations usual payroll to other employees. BONUS & BENEFITS Payment of any bonuses shall be at the complete discretion of the Corporation. No guarantee or representation that any bonuses will be paid has been made to the Employee. Standard benefits that are provided to other non-management employees shall be offered to the Employee, subject to the Corporation's policies and the terms and conditions of such benefits. WITHHOLDING All sums payable to Employee under this Agreement will be reduced by all federal, state, local, and other withholdings and similar taxes and payments required by applicable law. QUALIFICATIONS OF EMPLOYEE The employee shall satisfy all of the qualification that are established by the Corporation. TERM OF AGREEMENT There shall be no guaranteed term of employment. Employer acknowledges and agrees that Employee shall be an \"At Will\" Employee and that Employee's employment may be terminated at any time by the Corporation, with or without cause. FEES FROM EMPLOYEE'S WORK The Corporation shall have exclusive authority to determine the fees, or a procedure for establishing the fees, to be charged to clients by the Corporation for services that are provided by the Employee. All sums paid to the Employee or the Corporation in the way of fees, in cash or in kind, or otherwise for services of the Employee, shall, except as otherwise specifically agreed by the Corporation, be and remain the property of the Corporation and shall be included in the Corporation's name in such checking account or accounts as the Corporation may from time to time designate. CLIENTS AND CLIENT RECORDS The Corporation shall have the authority to determine who will be accepted as clients of the Corporation, and the Employee recognizes that such clients accepted are clients of the Corporation and not the Employee. All client records and files of any type concerning clients of the Corporation shall belong to and remain the property of the Corporation, notwithstanding the subsequent termination of the employment. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The Corporation shall have the authority to establish from time to time the policies and procedures to be followed by the Employee in performing services for the Corporation. This may include, but is not necessarily limited to, employment policies, computer use policies, Internet access policies, email policies, and all other policies, procedures, directives, and mandates established by the Corporation, whether or not in written form or formally adopted. Employee shall abide by the provisions of any contract entered into by the Corporation under which the Employee provides services. Employee shall comply with the terms and conditions of any and all contracts entered by the Corporation. TERMINATION Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee is an \"at will\" employee of the Corporation. As such, no term of employment is created hereby and employee may be terminated at any time in the sole discretion of the Corporation, whether there exists any cause for termination or not. CREATIONS AND INVENTIONS Employee acknowledges and agrees that any and all work product of the Employee that is conceived or created during the Employee's employment with the Corporation is the exclusive property of the Corporation. This shall include any and all copyrights, trade secrets, confidential information, patents, trademarks, trade dress, ideas, concepts, plans, business plans, business concepts, techniques, inventions, drawings, artwork, logos, graphics, web pages, databases, software, programs, CGI's, plug ins, applications, brochures, inventions, marketing plans and concepts, and all other ideas and work product of the Employee. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that all creations shall be \"works made for hire\" as defined in the [ACT OR CODE]. Notwithstanding the fact that this material may be considered to be a work made for hire, Employee agrees, during Employee's employment and thereafter, which covenant shall survive any termination of the employment relationship, to execute any and all documents requested by the Corporation to confirm the Corporation's ownership and control of all such material, including but not limited to assignments of copyright, confirmations of work for hire status, waivers of proprietary rights, copyright application, and any other documents requested by Corporation. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS","Employment Agreement_At Will Employee","7",513,"https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/1000px/employment-agreement_at-will-employee-D541.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/541.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/svgs/docviewerWebApp1.html?v6#541.xml",{"title":96,"description":6},"employment agreement_at will employee",[98,100,102],{"label":17,"url":99},"human-resources",{"label":20,"url":101},"hire-employee",{"label":23,"url":103},"business-legal-agreements","/template/employment-agreement_at-will-employee-D541",{"description":106,"descriptionCustom":6,"label":107,"pages":108,"size":109,"extension":10,"preview":110,"thumb":111,"svgFrame":112,"seoMetadata":113,"parents":114,"keywords":118,"url":119},"INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT This Independent Contractor Agreement (\"Agreement\") is made and effective [Date], BETWEEN: [INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR NAME] (the \"Independent Contractor\"), a company organized and existing under the laws of the [State/Province] of [STATE/PROVINCE], with its head office located at: [COMPLETE ADDRESS] AND: [YOUR COMPANY NAME] (the \"Company\"), a company organized and existing under the laws of the [State/Province] of [STATE/PROVINCE], with its head office located at: [YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS] RECITALS Independent Contractor is engaged in providing [Describe] business services, its Employer Tax I.D. Number is [Insert], and its Business License Number is [insert]. Independent Contractor has complied with all Federal, State, and local laws regarding business permits, sales permits, licenses, reporting requirements, tax withholding requirements, and other legal requirements of any kind that may be required to carry out said business and the Scope of Work which is to be performed as an Independent Contractor pursuant to this Agreement. Independent Contractor is or remains open to conducting similar tasks or activities for clients other than the Company and holds themselves out to the public to be a separate business entity. Company desires to engage and contract for the services of the Independent Contractor to perform certain tasks as set forth below. Independent Contractor desires to enter into this Agreement and perform as an independent contractor for the company and is willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth below. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and the mutual promises and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows: TERMS This Agreement shall be effective commencing [Date], and shall continue until terminated at the completion of the Scope of Work which shall occur no later than [Date] or by either party as otherwise provided herein. STATUS OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR This Agreement does not constitute a hiring by either party. It is the parties intentions that Independent Contractor shall have an independent contractor status and not be an employee for any purposes, including, but not limited to, [laws]. Independent Contractor shall retain sole and absolute discretion in the manner and means of carrying out their activities and responsibilities under this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be considered or construed to be a partnership or joint venture, and the Company shall not be liable for any obligations incurred by Independent Contractor unless specifically authorized in writing. Independent Contractor shall not act as an agent of the Company, ostensibly or otherwise, nor bind the Company in any manner, unless specifically authorized to do so in writing. TASKS, DUTIES, AND SCOPE OF WORK Independent Contractor agrees to devote as much time, attention, and energy as necessary to complete or achieve the following: [Describe]. The above to be referred to in this Agreement as the \"Scope of Work\". It is expected that the Scope of Work will completed by [Date]. Independent Contractor shall additionally perform any and all tasks and duties associated with the Scope of Work set forth above, including but not limited to, work being performed already or related change orders. Independent Contractor shall not be entitled to engage in any activities which are not expressly set forth by this Agreement. The books and records related to the Scope of Work set forth in this Agreement shall be maintained by the Independent Contractor at the Independent Contractor's principal place of business and open to inspection by Company during regular working hours. Documents to which Company will be entitled to inspect include, but are not limited to, any and all contract documents, change orders/purchase orders and work authorized by Independent Contractor or Company on existing or potential projects related to this Agreement. Independent Contractor shall be responsible to the management and directors of Company, but Independent Contractor will not be required to follow or establish a regular or daily work schedule. Supply all necessary equipment, materials and supplies. Independent Contractor will not rely on the equipment or offices of Company for completion of tasks and duties set forth pursuant to this Agreement. Any advice given Independent Contractors regarding the scope of work shall be considered a suggestion only, not an instruction. Company retains the right to inspect, stop, or alter the work of Independent Contractor to assure its conformity with this Agreement. ASSURANCE OF SERVICES Independent Contractor will assure that the following individuals (the \"Key Employees\") will be available to perform, and will perform, the Services hereunder until they are completed (identify by title and name as applicable): [Name of Key Employee, Title] [Name of Key Employee, Title] The Key Employees may be changed only with the prior written approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. COMPENSATION Independent Contractor shall be entitled to compensation for performing those tasks and duties related to the Scope of Work as follows: [Describe] Such compensation shall become due and payable to Independent Contractor in the following time, place, and manner: [Describe] NOTICE CONCERNING WITHHOLDING OF TAXES Independent Contractor recognizes and understands that it will receive a [specify tax] statement and related tax statements, and will be required to file corporate and/or individual tax returns and to pay taxes in accordance with all provisions of applicable Federal and State law. Independent Contractor hereby promises and agrees to indemnify the Company for any damages or expenses, including attorney's fees, and legal expenses, incurred by the Company as a result of independent contractor's failure to make such required payments. AGREEMENT TO WAIVE RIGHTS TO BENEFITS Independent Contractor hereby waives and foregoes the right to receive any benefits given by Company to its regular employees, including, but not limited to, health benefits, vacation and sick leave benefits, profit sharing plans, etc. This waiver is applicable to all non-salary benefits which might otherwise be found to accrue to the Independent Contractor by virtue of their services to Company, and is effective for the entire duration of Independent Contractor's agreement with Company. This waiver is effective independently of Independent Contractor's employment status as adjudged for taxation purposes or for any other purpose. Neither this Agreement, nor any duties or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by either party without the consent of the other. TERMINATION This Agreement may be terminated prior to the completion or achievement of the Scope of Work by either party giving [number] days written notice. Such termination shall not prejudice any other remedy to which the terminating party may be entitled, either by law, in equity, or under this Agreement. NON-DISCLOSURE OF TRADE SECRETS, CUSTOMER LISTS AND OTHER PROPRIETARY INFORMATION Independent Contractor agrees not to disclose or communicate, in any manner, either during or after Independent Contractor's agreement with Company, information about Company, its operations, clientele, or any other information, that relate to the business of Company including, but not limited to, the names of its customers, its marketing strategies, operations, or any other information of any kind which would be deemed confidential, a trade secret, a customer list, or other form of proprietary information of Company. Independent Contractor acknowledges that the above information is material and confidential and that it affects the profitability of Company. ","Independent Contractor Agreement","6",62,"https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/1000px/independent-contractor-agreement-D160.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/160.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/svgs/docviewerWebApp1.html?v6#160.xml",{"title":6,"description":6},[115],{"label":116,"url":117},"Consultant & Contractors","consulting-contractor-business","independent contractor agreement","/template/independent-contractor-agreement-D160",{"description":121,"descriptionCustom":6,"label":122,"pages":123,"size":91,"extension":10,"preview":124,"thumb":125,"svgFrame":126,"seoMetadata":127,"parents":129,"keywords":128,"url":134},"NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT (NDA) This Non-Disclosure Agreement (the \"Agreement\") is made and effective [DATE], BETWEEN: [YOUR COMPANY NAME] (the \"Disclosing Party\"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the [State/Province] of [STATE/PROVINCE], with its head office located at: [YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS] AND: [RECEIVING PARTY NAME] (the \"Receiving Party\"), an individual with his main address located at OR a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the [State/Province] of [STATE/PROVINCE], with its head office located at: [COMPLETE ADDRESS] WHEREAS, Receiving Party has been or will be engaged in the performance of work on [DESCRIBE]; and in connection therewith will be given access to certain confidential and proprietary information; and WHEREAS, Receiving Party and Disclosing Party wish to evidence by this Agreement the manner in which said confidential and proprietary material will be treated. NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows: NON-DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION Both Parties understand and agree that each Party may have access to the confidential information of the other party. For the purposes of this Agreement, \"Confidential Information\" means proprietary and confidential information about the Disclosing Party's (or it's suppliers') business or activities. Such information includes all business, financial, technical, and other information marked or designated by such Party as \"confidential\" or \"proprietary.\" Confidential Information also includes information which, by the nature of the circumstances surrounding the disclosure, ought in good faith to be treated as confidential. For the purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information does not include: Information that is currently in the public domain or that enters the public domain after the signing of this Agreement. Information a Party lawfully receives from a third Party without restriction on disclosure and without breach of a non-disclosure obligation. Information that the Receiving Party knew prior to receiving any Confidential Information from the Disclosing Party. Information that the Receiving Party independently develops without reliance on any Confidential Information from the Disclosing Party. Each Party agrees that it will not disclose to any third Party or use any Confidential Information disclosed to it by the other Party except when expressly permitted in writing by the other Party. Each Party also agrees that it will take all reasonable measures to maintain the confidentiality of all Confidential Information of the other Party in its possession or control. TERM The term of this Agreement is [number] of [years/months] from the date of execution by both Parties. TITLE The Receiving Party agrees that all Confidential Information furnished by the Disclosing Party shall remain the sole property of the Disclosing Party. DISCLAIMER","Non Disclosure Agreement Nda","3","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/1000px/non-disclosure-agreement-nda-D12692.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/12692.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/svgs/docviewerWebApp1.html?v6#12692.xml",{"title":128,"description":6},"non disclosure agreement nda",[130,131],{"label":23,"url":103},{"label":132,"url":133},"Confidentiality Agreements","confidentiality-agreement","/template/non-disclosure-agreement-nda-D12692",{"description":136,"descriptionCustom":6,"label":137,"pages":138,"size":139,"extension":10,"preview":140,"thumb":141,"svgFrame":142,"seoMetadata":143,"parents":144,"keywords":148,"url":149},"EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR AN EXECUTIVE This Employment Agreement for an Executive (the \"Agreement\") is made and effective this [Date], BETWEEN: [EXECUTIVE NAME] (the \"Executive\"), an individual with his main address at: AND: [COMPANY NAME] (the \"Company\"), an entity organized and existing under the laws of the [STATE/PROVINCE], with its head office located at: Recitals In consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained and the moneys to be paid hereunder, the Company hereby employs the Executive and the Executive hereby agrees to perform services as an Executive of the Company, upon the following terms and conditions: TERM The Company hereby employs Executive to serve as [position] and to serve in such additional or different position or positions as the Company may determine in its sole discretion. The term of employment shall be for a period of [NUMBER] years (\"Employment Period\") to commence on [DATE], unless earlier terminated as set forth herein. The effective date of this Agreement shall be the date first set forth above, and it shall continue in effect until the earlier of: The effective date of any subsequent employment agreement between the Company and the Executive; The effective date of any termination of employment as provided elsewhere herein; or [NUMBER] year(s) from the effective date hereof, provided, that this Employment Agreement shall automatically renew for successive periods of [NUMBER] years each unless either party gives written notice to other that it does not wish to automatically renew this Agreement, which written notice must be received by the other party no less than [NUMBER] days and no more than [NUMBER] days prior to the expiration of the applicable term. Duties and Responsibilities Executive will be reporting to [IDENTIFY]. Within the limitations established by the By-laws of the Company, the Executive shall have each and all of the duties and responsibilities of that position and such other or different duties on behalf of the Company, as may be assigned from time to time by [identify what person or body may assign additional responsibilities]. Location The initial principal location at which Executive shall perform services for the Company shall be [location]. Acceptance of Employment Executive accepts employment with the Company upon the terms set forth above and agrees to devote all Executive's time, energy and ability to the interests of the Company, and to perform Executive's duties in an efficient, trustworthy and business-like manner. Devotion of Time to Employment The Executive shall devote the Executive's best efforts and substantially all of the Executive's working time to performing the duties on behalf of the Company. The Executive shall provide services during the normal business hours of the Company as determined by the Company. Reasonable amounts of time may be allotted to personal or outside business, charitable and professional activities and shall not constitute a violation of this Agreement provided such activities do not materially interfere with the services required to be rendered hereunder. QUALIFICATIONS The Executive shall, as a condition of this Agreement, satisfy all of the qualification that are reasonably and in good faith established by the Board of Directors. Compensation Base Salary Executive shall be paid a base salary (\"Base Salary\") at the annual rate of [salary], payable in bi-weekly installments consistent with Company's payroll practices. The annual Base Salary shall be reviewed on or before [DATE] of each year, unless Executive's employment hereunder shall have been terminated earlier pursuant to this Agreement, starting on [agreed upon date] by the Board of Directors of the Company to determine if such Base Salary should be increased for the following year in recognition of services to the Company. In consideration of the services under this Agreement, Executive shall be paid the aggregate of basic compensation, bonus and benefits as hereinafter set forth. Payment Payment of all compensation to Executive hereunder shall be made in accordance with the relevant Company policies in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices. Bonus From time to time, the Company may pay to Executive a bonus out of net revenues of the Company. Payment of any bonus compensation shall be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors or the Executive committee of the Board of Directors and the Executive shall have no entitlement to such amount absent a decision by the Company as aforesaid to make such bonus compensation. Executive shall also be entitled to a bonus determined as follows: [DESCRIBE] Benefits The Company shall provide Executive with such benefits as are provided to other senior management Of the Company. Benefits shall include at a minimum (i) paid vacation of [NUMBER] days per year, at such times as approved by the Board of Directors, (ii) health insurance coverage under the same terms as offered to other Executives of the Company, (iii) retirement and profit sharing programs as offered to other Executives of the Company, (iv) paid holidays as per the Company's policies, and (v) such other benefits and perquisites as are approved by the Board of Directors. The Company has the right to modify conditions of participation, terminate any benefit, or change insurance plans and other providers of such benefits in its sole discretion. The Executive shall be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses that are pre-approved by the Company, subject to the Company's policies and procedures therefore, and only for such items that are a necessary and integral part of the Executive's job functions. NonDeductible Compensation In the event a deduction shall be disallowed by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction for federal income tax purposes for all or any part of the payment made to Executive by the Company or any other shareholder or Executive of the Company, shall be required by the Internal Revenue Service to pay a deficiency on account of such disallowance, then Executive shall repay to the Company or such other individual required to make such payment, an amount equal to the tax imposed on the disallowed portion of such payment, plus any and all interest and penalties paid with respect thereto. The Company or other party required to make payment shall not be required to defend any proposed disallowance or other action by the Internal Revenue Service or any other state, federal, or local taxing authorities. Withholding All sums payable to Executive under this Agreement will be reduced by all federal, state, local, and other withholdings and similar taxes and payments required by applicable law. Other Employment Benefits Business Expenses Upon submission of itemized expense statements in the manner specified by the Company, Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other reasonable business expenses duly incurred by Executive in the performance of his duties under this Agreement. Benefit Plans Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's medical and dental plans, life and disability insurance plans and retirement plans pursuant to their terms and conditions. Executive shall be entitled to participate in any other benefit plan offered by the Company to its Executives during the term of this Agreement (other than stock option or stock incentive plans, which are governed by Section 3(d) below). Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company or any affiliate of the Company from terminating or amending any Executive benefit plan or program from time to time. Vacation Executive shall be entitled to [agreed upon number of time] weeks of vacation each year of full employment, exclusive of legal holidays, as long as the scheduling of Executive's vacation does not interfere with the Company's normal business operations.","Employment Agreement Executive","12",97,"https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/1000px/employment-agreement_executive-D543.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/543.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/svgs/docviewerWebApp1.html?v6#543.xml",{"title":6,"description":6},[145,146,147],{"label":17,"url":99},{"label":20,"url":101},{"label":23,"url":103},"employment agreement executive","/template/employment-agreement-executive-D543",{"description":151,"descriptionCustom":6,"label":152,"pages":153,"size":91,"extension":10,"preview":154,"thumb":155,"svgFrame":156,"seoMetadata":157,"parents":159,"keywords":158,"url":162},"[DATE] [CONTACT NAME] [ADDRESS] [ADDRESS 2] [CITY, STATE/PROVINCE] [ZIP/POSTAL CODE] SUBJECT: JOB OFFER FOR [DESCRIBE] Dear [CANDIDATE NAME]: Congratulations! [Company name] is excited to offer you the position of [job title] with an expected start date of [day, month, year] at a starting salary of [dollar amount] per [hour, year, etc.]. You can expect to receive payment [weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.], starting on [date of first pay period]. We must wrap up a few more formalities, including the successful completion of your [background check, drug screening, reference check, etc.]. As the [job title], you will report to [manager/supervisor name and title] at [workplace location] from [hours of day, days of week]","Job Offer Letter Long","1","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/1000px/job-offer-letter-long-D12769.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/12769.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/svgs/docviewerWebApp1.html?v6#12769.xml",{"title":158,"description":6},"job offer letter long",[160,161],{"label":17,"url":99},{"label":20,"url":101},"/template/job-offer-letter-long-D12769",{"description":164,"descriptionCustom":6,"label":165,"pages":166,"size":91,"extension":10,"preview":167,"thumb":168,"svgFrame":169,"seoMetadata":170,"parents":172,"keywords":171,"url":175},"FIXED-TERM AGREEMENT This Fixed-Term Agreement (the \"Agreement\") is effective [DATE], BETWEEN: [COMPANY NAME], (the \"Company\") a company organized and existing under the laws of the [State/Province] of [STATE/PROVINCE] with its head office located at: [YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS] AND: [EMPLOYEE NAME], (the \"Employee\") an individual with his main address located at: [YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS] Collectively, the Company and Employee shall be referred to as the \"Parties.\" WHEREAS, the Company has offered employment to the Employee in the capacity of [SPECIFY CAPACITY OF EMPLOYEE] in the Company; WHEREAS, the Employee is desirous of and is willing to be employed by the Company in such capacity; NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows: DEFINITIONS \"Agreement\" and \"this Agreement\" shall mean this Fixed-Term Agreement and all attached annexures and instruments supplemental to or amending, modifying or confirming this Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. \"Company\" shall have the meaning given to such expression in paragraph 1 of the introduction of the Parties. \"Confidential Information\" includes any trade/business secret, technical knowledge or know-how, financial information, plans, customer lists, pricing policies and procedures, marketing data, research and development data, product data, any formula pattern or compilation of information used in the business of the Company or any clients thereof or their affairs. \"Intellectual Property\" means all intellectual and industrial property and all rights therein, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all inventions (whether patentable or not, and whether or not patent protection has been applied for or granted), improvements, developments, discoveries, proprietary information, trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, websites, Internet domain names, logos, slogans, know-how, trade secrets, processes, designs (whether or not registerable and whether or not design rights subsist in them), works in which copyright may subsist (including computer software and preparatory and design materials therefor). \"Month\" means a calendar month. \"Working Day\" means any day excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays. \"Customer(s)\"/\"Clients\" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, business, or other entity, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, whose existence and business is known to the Employee as a result of the Employee's access to the Company's business information, Confidential Information, customer lists, customer account information or any other source of information the Employee has access to during its employment. TERM This is a Fixed-Term Agreement. This Agreement will commence on [SPECIFY DATE] and will end on [SPECIFY DATE]. FIXED-TERM APPOINTMENT The Company hereby offers appointment to the Employee for a Fixed Term to serve the Company in the capacity of [CAPACITY OF EMPLOYEE], with effect from [SPECIFY DATE] (the \"Effective Date\") until [SPECIFY DATE]. The Company may conduct a background and a medical check on the Employee, who hereby agrees and assents to the aforesaid offer being made subject to the satisfactory completion of the same. The Employee shall perform their duties at [SPECIFY ADDRESS]. The Employee warrants that, by entering into this Agreement and performing obligations hereunder, the Employee will not be in breach of any terms or obligations under any subsisting agreement, written or oral, with any third party. Notice Period. The Employee will be required to give [NUMBER OF MONTHS] months' notice or salary thereof in case the Employee decides to leave the Company's services. In the event of the Employee having any incomplete assignment, the Company will have the discretion to relieve the Employee only at the end of the [NUMBER OF MONTHS] months' notice period. Similarly, the Company can terminate the Employee's services by giving the Employee [NUMBER OF MONTHS] months' notice or salary thereof. The Company may terminate the Employee's services immediately on disciplinary grounds. Standard Office Hours. The Company's core hours of operation are from [OFFICE HOURS]. DUTIES AND POWERS The Employee's job description and general responsibilities shall be as set forth in \"Annexure A\" and shall include such further duties and responsibilities as the Company may delegate from time to time. The roles and duties of the Employee are not limited to the ones listed in Annexure A, and the same can be modified or altered as per the decision of the Company. The Employee shall perform all such duties as may be delegated by the Company and comply with all such directions as the Officers of the Company and/or his/her nominated deputies may from time to time assign or give to the Employee. The Employee shall, during the Term of this Agreement (unless prevented by ill health or accident or as otherwise agreed by the Company in writing), devote his time and attention and abilities to the employment with the Company and shall use best endeavours to promote and protect the Company's general interests and welfare. The Parties shall fulfill all their obligations by being compliant with the applicable laws. REMUNERATION The Employee shall be paid [SPECIFY MONTHLY SALARY] on a monthly basis. The said salary shall be paid on [DAY] day of each month to the Employee by the Company. The Employee's salary shall be paid through [MODE OF TRANSFER]. The Employee's salary and other benefits shall be subject to compulsory statutory and other deductions, including tax and other contributions that are to be held by the Employee in STATE/PROVINCE]. LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS The Employee shall be entitled to leave in a year as per the leave policy of the Company, which is annexed as Annexure B to the present Agreement. NON-DISCLOSURE, NON-SOLICITATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY As Confidential Information will from time to time become known to the Employee, the Company considers and the Employee agrees that the restraints set forth in this Agreement (on which the Employee has had the opportunity to take independent legal advice) are necessary for the reasonable protection by the Company of its business or the business of the Group, the clients thereof or their respective affairs. The Employee shall not at any time, either during the continuance of or after the termination of employment with the Company, use, disclose or communicate to any person whatsoever any Confidential Information which the Employee has or of which he may have become possessed during the Employee's employment with the Company, nor shall he supply the names or addresses of any clients, customers, vendors or agents of the Company to any person except as authorised by the Company or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Employee consents to the Company holding and processing, both electronically and manually, the data it collects in the course of his employment, for the purpose of the Company's administration and management of its employees, its business, and to comply with applicable procedures, laws and regulations. The Employee agrees that he will not at any time during the continuance of employment or on expiry or on termination/cessation of employment with the Company or thereafter, issue any statements to the press (whether oral or written) which have not directly been authorised by the Company. The obligations under this clause shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement, and any disclosure of the Confidential Information by the Employee intentionally or unintentionally shall constitute a material breach of the present Agreement, thereby making the Employee liable for the legal action that may be taken by the Company in this regard.","Fixed Term Contract","9","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/1000px/fixed-term-contract-D13225.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/imgs/250px/13225.png","https://templates.business-in-a-box.com/svgs/docviewerWebApp1.html?v6#13225.xml",{"title":171,"description":6},"fixed term contract",[173,174],{"label":23,"url":103},{"label":23,"url":103},"/template/fixed-term-contract-D13225",false,{"seo":178,"reviewer":190,"legal_disclaimer":194,"quick_facts":195,"at_a_glance":197,"personas":201,"variants":226,"glossary":253,"clauses":287,"how_to_fill":338,"common_mistakes":379,"faqs":404,"industries":432,"comparisons":457,"diy_vs_lawyer":469,"jurisdictions":482,"related_template_ids_curated":503,"schema":513,"classification":514},{"meta_title":179,"meta_description":180,"primary_keyword":181,"secondary_keywords":182},"Employee Authorship Certificate Template | BIB","Free employee authorship certificate template to document and assign IP rights for work created by employees.","employee authorship certificate template",[25,183,184,185,186,187,188,189],"work made for hire certificate","employee ip assignment template","authorship certificate template word","employee intellectual property certificate","work product ownership agreement","copyright assignment employee template","employee work product certificate",{"name":191,"credential":192,"reviewed_date":193},"Bruno Goulet","CEO, Business in a Box","2026-05-02",true,{"difficulty":196,"legal_review_recommended":194,"signature_required":194},"medium",{"what_it_is":198,"when_you_need_it":199,"whats_inside":200},"An Employee Authorship Certificate is a legally binding document in which an employee formally acknowledges and certifies that specific work product — code, written content, designs, or other creative output — was created within the scope of their employment and is owned by the employer. This free Word download lets you capture the key facts of authorship, the nature of the work, and the employee's assignment of any residual rights, all in a single signed record you can export as PDF and store in your HR or IP files.\n","Use it whenever an employee delivers a significant work product — a software module, a proprietary report, a creative asset — and you need a documented, signed record that the employer owns the output. It is especially important when an employment contract lacks a specific IP assignment clause, when work was created under ambiguous circumstances, or before licensing, selling, or transferring the work to a third party.\n","Parties and work identification, a statement of authorship and scope of employment, an IP assignment and work-made-for-hire declaration, a representation that no third-party rights are embedded, a moral rights waiver where applicable, and signatures from the employee and an authorized employer representative.\n",[202,206,210,214,218,222],{"title":203,"use_case":204,"icon_asset_id":205},"Startup founders","Securing clean IP ownership of code and content before a funding round or acquisition","persona-startup-founder",{"title":207,"use_case":208,"icon_asset_id":209},"HR managers","Documenting IP ownership for each significant deliverable produced by the development team","persona-hr-manager",{"title":211,"use_case":212,"icon_asset_id":213},"In-house legal counsel","Cleaning up IP chains before licensing or selling proprietary software or content","persona-legal-counsel",{"title":215,"use_case":216,"icon_asset_id":217},"Creative agency owners","Confirming employer ownership of designs, copy, and campaigns created by staff","persona-agency",{"title":219,"use_case":220,"icon_asset_id":221},"Software development managers","Capturing signed authorship records for each release or major code contribution","persona-tech-lead",{"title":223,"use_case":224,"icon_asset_id":225},"Operations directors","Standardizing IP documentation across departments to support audits and due diligence","persona-operations-director",[227,230,234,238,242,246,249],{"situation":228,"recommended_template":7,"slug":229},"Capturing IP from a full-time salaried employee for a single deliverable","employee-authorship-certificate-D536",{"situation":231,"recommended_template":232,"slug":233},"Assigning all IP rights from an independent contractor engagement","Independent Contractor IP Assignment Agreement","independent-contractor-agreement-D160",{"situation":235,"recommended_template":236,"slug":237},"Broadly assigning all present and future IP created by an employee","Employee IP Assignment Agreement","ip-sale-agreement-D964",{"situation":239,"recommended_template":240,"slug":241},"Protecting confidential information alongside IP ownership","Non-Disclosure Agreement (Employee)","non-disclosure-agreement-nda-D12692",{"situation":243,"recommended_template":244,"slug":245},"Embedding IP assignment and authorship obligations into the hiring contract","Employment Contract with IP Assignment","employment-agreement_at-will-employee-D541",{"situation":247,"recommended_template":248,"slug":237},"Documenting IP ownership for a jointly authored work involving multiple employees","Joint Authorship and IP Assignment Agreement",{"situation":250,"recommended_template":251,"slug":252},"Recording IP assignment for a software product prior to a sale or M&A transaction","IP Assignment and Transfer Agreement","agreement-of-absolute-transfer-and-assignment-D933",[254,257,260,263,266,269,272,275,278,281,284],{"term":255,"definition":256},"Work Made for Hire","A legal doctrine under which a work created by an employee within the scope of employment is automatically owned by the employer, not the individual author.",{"term":258,"definition":259},"IP Assignment","A written transfer of intellectual property rights — copyright, patent rights, or trade secret rights — from one party (the assignor) to another (the assignee).",{"term":261,"definition":262},"Authorship","Legal recognition of the person or entity that created an original work, which determines initial ownership of copyright unless otherwise assigned.",{"term":264,"definition":265},"Scope of Employment","The range of duties and activities an employee is expected to perform as part of their job, which determines whether work-made-for-hire doctrine applies to a given creation.",{"term":267,"definition":268},"Copyright","An exclusive legal right protecting original creative works — software, written content, designs, and more — from reproduction, distribution, or adaptation without the rights holder's permission.",{"term":270,"definition":271},"Moral Rights","Rights of attribution and integrity held by an author in many jurisdictions, separate from economic copyright, that allow them to object to derogatory treatment of their work or demand credit.",{"term":273,"definition":274},"Residual Rights","Any intellectual property rights not clearly transferred by an employment agreement that remain with the individual creator unless separately assigned.",{"term":276,"definition":277},"Prior Inventions","Work, code, or inventions created by an employee before their employment began, which must be explicitly carved out to avoid inadvertent assignment to the employer.",{"term":279,"definition":280},"Due Diligence","The process by which a buyer, investor, or licensee investigates IP ownership, validity, and encumbrances before completing a transaction.",{"term":282,"definition":283},"Waiver","A voluntary, documented relinquishment of a known right — such as the right to attribution — which in IP contexts is often required for the employer to freely modify or sublicense work.",{"term":285,"definition":286},"Chain of Title","The documented sequence of ownership transfers for a piece of intellectual property, establishing that the current rights holder has clean, unencumbered title.",[288,293,298,303,308,313,318,323,328,333],{"name":289,"plain_english":290,"sample_language":291,"common_mistake":292},"Parties and recitals","Identifies the employer and the employee by their full legal names and establishes the employment relationship as the basis for the certificate.","This Employee Authorship Certificate ('Certificate') is entered into as of [DATE] between [EMPLOYER LEGAL NAME], a [STATE/PROVINCE] [ENTITY TYPE] ('Company'), and [EMPLOYEE FULL NAME] ('Employee'), currently employed as [JOB TITLE].","Using a trade name or DBA for the employer instead of the registered legal entity name — this can create a gap in chain of title that surfaces during M&A due diligence.",{"name":294,"plain_english":295,"sample_language":296,"common_mistake":297},"Description of the work","Precisely identifies the specific work product covered by the certificate — its name, nature, date of creation, and the project or context in which it was produced.","Employee authored the following work product: [TITLE OR DESCRIPTION OF WORK], a [TYPE — e.g., software module / written report / graphic design], created between [START DATE] and [COMPLETION DATE] in connection with [PROJECT NAME / CLIENT ENGAGEMENT].","Describing the work so broadly that it inadvertently captures pre-existing materials or personal projects the employee created before or outside of employment.",{"name":299,"plain_english":300,"sample_language":301,"common_mistake":302},"Statement of authorship and scope of employment","The employee certifies that the work was created by them, solely or jointly, within the scope of their employment duties and using employer resources, time, or direction.","Employee certifies that the Work was created by Employee during the course of Employee's employment with Company, within the scope of Employee's duties as [JOB TITLE], and using Company resources and direction.","Omitting the resource and direction element. Courts in several jurisdictions weigh whether employer resources and control were involved when determining whether work-made-for-hire doctrine applies.",{"name":304,"plain_english":305,"sample_language":306,"common_mistake":307},"Work-made-for-hire declaration","Confirms that the work is a 'work made for hire' under applicable copyright law, vesting initial ownership in the employer, to the maximum extent permitted.","The Work is a 'work made for hire' as defined under [applicable copyright law], and all copyright in the Work vests exclusively in Company from the moment of creation. To the extent any Work does not qualify as a work made for hire, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns all rights to Company.","Relying solely on the work-made-for-hire declaration without including a fallback assignment clause. Not all works qualify as works made for hire under every jurisdiction's copyright statute.",{"name":309,"plain_english":310,"sample_language":311,"common_mistake":312},"IP assignment and transfer","The employee irrevocably transfers to the employer all intellectual property rights in the work — including copyright, patents, trade secrets, and any moral rights that can be waived or assigned — to the fullest extent permitted by law.","To the extent the Work or any element thereof is not a work made for hire, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers, and conveys to Company all right, title, and interest in and to the Work, including all copyright, patent rights, trade secret rights, and other intellectual property rights, throughout the world.","Limiting the assignment to copyright and forgetting patent rights. Code and technical designs may be patentable — an assignment clause that omits patent rights leaves a significant gap.",{"name":314,"plain_english":315,"sample_language":316,"common_mistake":317},"Representations regarding third-party rights","The employee confirms that the work does not incorporate any third-party materials, open-source code, or prior employer IP that would encumber the employer's title, and that no other person has a claim to the work.","Employee represents and warrants that: (a) the Work is original to Employee; (b) the Work does not incorporate any third-party copyrighted material, open-source software, or proprietary information of any prior employer; and (c) no other person or entity has any claim to or interest in the Work.","Omitting a specific representation about open-source components. Copyleft licenses embedded in employee-authored code can obligate the employer to release proprietary source code.",{"name":319,"plain_english":320,"sample_language":321,"common_mistake":322},"Prior inventions carve-out","Expressly excludes from the assignment any pre-existing work or inventions the employee created before employment began, which should be listed in an attached schedule to avoid disputes.","The assignment in this Certificate does not include any work, invention, or development listed in Schedule A ('Prior Inventions'), which Employee created prior to the commencement of employment with Company.","Skipping Schedule A entirely because the employee says they have no prior inventions. A blank schedule still serves as a documented acknowledgment that none exist, eliminating future 'I forgot to mention it' claims.",{"name":324,"plain_english":325,"sample_language":326,"common_mistake":327},"Moral rights waiver","Where legally permitted, the employee waives any moral rights — including the right of attribution and the right to object to modification — so the employer may freely edit, license, or sublicense the work.","To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Employee irrevocably waives all moral rights in the Work, including any right of attribution or right to object to any modification, combination, or use of the Work by Company or its successors and assigns.","Using a US-style waiver in Canada or the EU without adjusting language. Moral rights cannot be assigned (only waived) under Canadian copyright law, and some EU jurisdictions treat waivers of moral rights as unenforceable.",{"name":329,"plain_english":330,"sample_language":331,"common_mistake":332},"Further assurances","Obligates the employee to sign any additional documents and take any further steps the employer reasonably needs to perfect, record, or enforce its IP rights in the work.","Employee agrees to execute any additional documents, assignments, or instruments and take any further actions that Company may reasonably request to evidence, perfect, or enforce Company's rights in the Work, including patent applications and copyright registrations.","Omitting a power of attorney backstop. If the employee becomes unavailable or uncooperative, this clause alone may not be sufficient — a limited power of attorney provision enables the employer to execute filings without the employee's participation.",{"name":334,"plain_english":335,"sample_language":336,"common_mistake":337},"Governing law and entire agreement","Specifies which jurisdiction's law governs the certificate and confirms that it supersedes any prior oral or written understandings about ownership of the specific work identified.","This Certificate is governed by the laws of [STATE / PROVINCE / COUNTRY]. It constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to ownership of the Work and supersedes all prior representations and understandings relating thereto.","Choosing a governing law that diverges from where the employee actually works. Several jurisdictions apply local employment and copyright law regardless of a contractual choice-of-law clause.",[339,344,349,354,359,364,369,374],{"step":340,"title":341,"description":342,"tip":343},1,"Identify the parties with precise legal names","Enter the employer's full registered legal entity name — not a brand name — and the employee's legal name as it appears on their employment record. Include the employee's job title and department.","Cross-check the employer name against your corporate registry filing before signing. A mismatch creates a gap in chain of title that complicates future transactions.",{"step":345,"title":346,"description":347,"tip":348},2,"Describe the work product specifically","Name the work, state its type (software module, report, design, etc.), and record the creation date range and the project or client engagement it relates to. Attach a copy of the work or a unique identifier such as a version number or file hash.","For software, include the repository name and commit range or release version — this makes the certificate searchable and linkable in your IP records.",{"step":350,"title":351,"description":352,"tip":353},3,"Confirm the scope-of-employment basis","Review whether the work was performed during business hours, with employer resources, and under employer direction. If any element is ambiguous, note it in a brief recital and include the IP assignment fallback clause regardless.","If the employee used personal equipment or worked outside normal hours, the work-made-for-hire doctrine may not apply automatically — the assignment clause becomes even more critical.",{"step":355,"title":356,"description":357,"tip":358},4,"Complete the prior inventions schedule","Ask the employee to list any pre-existing work or inventions they want excluded from the assignment. If there are none, have them sign a blank Schedule A explicitly stating 'None.'","A signed blank schedule is better than no schedule. It prevents a departing employee from later claiming a pre-existing codebase or design was not covered.",{"step":360,"title":361,"description":362,"tip":363},5,"Verify there are no embedded third-party materials","Before signing, confirm with the employee that the work does not incorporate open-source code under a copyleft license, licensed stock assets, or proprietary materials from a previous employer.","Run an open-source license scan (e.g., FOSSA, Black Duck) on any software deliverable before executing the certificate — this surfaces GPL or AGPL components that could trigger public disclosure obligations.",{"step":365,"title":366,"description":367,"tip":368},6,"Tailor the moral rights waiver to jurisdiction","For employees in the US, a standard waiver clause is sufficient. For Canada, use waiver language (not assignment) for moral rights. For EU employees, check whether the specific member state recognizes moral rights waivers before including the clause.","When in doubt, include both a waiver and an assignment of moral rights with a severability note — courts will apply whichever formulation is valid in the governing jurisdiction.",{"step":370,"title":371,"description":372,"tip":373},7,"Execute before the work is distributed or licensed","Both the employee and an authorized employer representative must sign and date the certificate. Execute it as soon as the work is completed — before it is shared externally, licensed, or incorporated into a product.","Use a timestamped eSignature platform to create an immutable execution record. Store the fully executed PDF alongside the work product in your IP register.",{"step":375,"title":376,"description":377,"tip":378},8,"File the certificate in your IP register","Add the executed certificate to your IP register with the work description, execution date, and a link to the work product. For high-value software or patentable inventions, consider recording the assignment with the relevant IP office.","Recording an IP assignment with the US Copyright Office or USPTO costs $85–$105 and provides constructive notice to third parties, which matters in M&A and licensing transactions.",[380,384,388,392,396,400],{"mistake":381,"why_it_matters":382,"fix":383},"Relying on work-made-for-hire doctrine without a fallback assignment","Not every creative output qualifies as a work made for hire under every jurisdiction's statute. Without a fallback assignment clause, a court finding that the doctrine does not apply leaves the employer with no ownership rights.","Always include both a work-made-for-hire declaration and an irrevocable IP assignment clause covering all categories of IP. This dual approach ensures coverage regardless of how a court characterizes the work.",{"mistake":385,"why_it_matters":386,"fix":387},"Omitting the open-source and third-party representations","Copyleft open-source components embedded in employee-authored code can obligate the employer to release proprietary source code publicly, destroying trade secret protection and product value.","Include an explicit representation that the work is free of third-party copyleft materials, and conduct a license audit of any software deliverable before executing the certificate.",{"mistake":389,"why_it_matters":390,"fix":391},"Skipping the prior inventions schedule","Without a documented carve-out, an employee can later claim that pre-employment work was swept into the assignment, creating disputes that cloud IP title during due diligence.","Always attach Schedule A. If the employee has no prior inventions, require a signed blank schedule explicitly stating 'None' — this acknowledgment is more valuable than a blank page.",{"mistake":393,"why_it_matters":394,"fix":395},"Using a US moral rights waiver for employees in Canada or the EU","Moral rights in Canada and most EU member states cannot be assigned, only waived, and some jurisdictions treat broad waivers as unenforceable. Using a US-style clause may leave moral rights intact, allowing the employee to object to modifications or demand attribution.","Tailor the moral rights provision to the employee's work location. Use jurisdiction-specific waiver language for Canada and EU employees, and obtain legal review for any high-value work created in these regions.",{"mistake":397,"why_it_matters":398,"fix":399},"Executing the certificate after the work has already been licensed or transferred","An assignment executed after a third-party license or transfer has been granted may not reach back to cure the ownership gap — the assignee takes subject to prior encumbrances.","Make execution of an authorship certificate a mandatory step in your work-delivery workflow, completed before any external sharing, licensing, or incorporation into a product.",{"mistake":401,"why_it_matters":402,"fix":403},"Using a vague work description that could sweep in personal or prior-employer materials","A description like 'all software written by Employee during 2025' may inadvertently capture personal projects or code from a previous employer, creating third-party claims against your IP portfolio.","Describe the work by specific project name, deliverable type, date range, and version or file identifier. Attach a copy or reference the precise repository and commit range for software.",[405,408,411,414,417,420,423,426,429],{"question":406,"answer":407},"What is an employee authorship certificate?","An employee authorship certificate is a signed legal document in which an employee certifies that specific work product was created within the scope of their employment and formally assigns or confirms the employer's ownership of all intellectual property rights in that work. It documents the factual basis for the employer's title — authorship, scope of employment, and absence of third-party encumbrances — and serves as evidence of a clean chain of title for IP due diligence, licensing, or sale transactions.\n",{"question":409,"answer":410},"Is an employee authorship certificate the same as a work-made-for-hire agreement?","They overlap but are not identical. A work-made-for-hire agreement or clause states that work created by an employee in the scope of employment belongs to the employer under applicable copyright law. An employee authorship certificate is a document-specific record that identifies a particular piece of work, confirms the authorship facts, and includes both a work-made-for-hire declaration and a fallback IP assignment — plus representations about third-party rights and a moral rights waiver. The certificate provides stronger, more specific evidence of ownership than a general employment clause alone.\n",{"question":412,"answer":413},"Do I need an employee authorship certificate if my employment contracts already include an IP assignment clause?","A general IP assignment clause in an employment contract is a good baseline, but it operates prospectively and broadly. An employee authorship certificate documents a specific piece of work with particularity — date, description, authorship facts, and third-party representations. This specificity is what due diligence reviewers, patent offices, and copyright registries require when verifying chain of title. For high-value software, creative works, or patentable inventions, the certificate supplements the employment contract and provides the granular evidence a transaction demands.\n",{"question":415,"answer":416},"When should an employee authorship certificate be executed?","Execute it as soon as the work is complete and before it is licensed, distributed, incorporated into a product, or transferred to any third party. Many companies build execution into their delivery or sprint-close workflow, requiring a signed certificate for every major release, report, or creative asset. Executing retroactively — after a licensing deal or M&A transaction has been announced — may not cure an existing ownership gap.\n",{"question":418,"answer":419},"Can an employee refuse to sign an employee authorship certificate?","In most jurisdictions, work created within the scope of employment is owned by the employer as a matter of law, so the certificate is largely a documentation exercise. That said, an employee can refuse to sign. If no authorship certificate exists and the employment contract's IP clause is narrow or absent, the employer may need to pursue a court declaration of ownership — a costly and time-consuming process. To reduce this risk, make execution of authorship certificates a standard, non-negotiable step in the employment agreement and onboarding process.\n",{"question":421,"answer":422},"What happens if the employee used open-source code or third-party materials?","Third-party materials embedded in an employee-authored work can encumber the employer's IP rights. Copyleft open-source licenses such as the GPL or AGPL require derivative works to be released under the same license — potentially forcing disclosure of proprietary source code. The certificate's third-party representations clause requires the employee to disclose any such components before signing. Employers should also run a software composition analysis tool on any code deliverable to independently verify compliance.\n",{"question":424,"answer":425},"Are employee authorship certificates enforceable in all countries?","The core IP assignment provisions are generally enforceable in most commercial jurisdictions, but specific elements — particularly moral rights waivers — vary significantly. In the United States, moral rights are narrow and largely waivable. In Canada, moral rights exist but can only be waived, not assigned. In EU member states, enforceability of moral rights waivers depends on national law, and some countries treat them as void. Always tailor the certificate's moral rights language to the employee's jurisdiction and obtain local legal review for high-value creative works.\n",{"question":427,"answer":428},"Should the certificate include a prior inventions carve-out?","Yes, always. Without a prior inventions carve-out and a signed Schedule A, an employee can argue that pre-employment work — personal projects, prior employer code, or side ventures — was swept into the assignment. A completed Schedule A, even if blank, creates a documented record that the parties agreed on the scope of exclusions at the time of signing. This prevents retroactive claims that cloud IP title and can derail acquisition or licensing transactions.\n",{"question":430,"answer":431},"Does recording an employee authorship certificate with a government IP office provide additional protection?","Recording an IP assignment with the US Copyright Office or USPTO is optional but provides constructive notice to third parties — meaning any subsequent claimant is deemed to have known about the assignment even if they did not conduct a search. This is particularly valuable before a sale, licensing deal, or patent application. Recording costs $85–$105 per document at the USPTO and is generally recommended for software products, patentable inventions, or high-value creative works that will be commercialized.\n",[433,437,441,445,449,453],{"industry":434,"icon_asset_id":435,"specifics":436},"Technology / SaaS","industry-saas","Used to document ownership of every software module, algorithm, and dataset produced by engineering staff, providing the clean IP chain required for venture funding, patent applications, and acquisition due diligence.",{"industry":438,"icon_asset_id":439,"specifics":440},"Creative and Marketing Agencies","industry-marketing","Confirms employer ownership of client-facing designs, copy, campaigns, and brand assets created by staff, ensuring the agency can license deliverables to clients without residual employee claims.",{"industry":442,"icon_asset_id":443,"specifics":444},"Pharmaceutical and Biotech","industry-healthtech","Supports patent prosecution by documenting inventorship and assignment for each compound, formulation, or research method developed by in-house scientists, satisfying USPTO and EPO recordation requirements.",{"industry":446,"icon_asset_id":447,"specifics":448},"Financial Services","industry-fintech","Covers proprietary trading algorithms, risk models, and analytical tools developed by quant and technology staff, providing the IP documentation required by regulators and acquirers in fintech transactions.",{"industry":450,"icon_asset_id":451,"specifics":452},"Publishing and Media","industry-professional-services","Captures authorship and copyright assignment for articles, scripts, photographs, and multimedia content produced by editorial staff, enabling the publisher to license, syndicate, or sell content without employee consent.",{"industry":454,"icon_asset_id":455,"specifics":456},"Manufacturing and Engineering","industry-manufacturing","Documents ownership of technical drawings, process innovations, and product designs created by engineering employees, forming the evidential foundation for patent filings and trade secret protection.",[458,462,464,466],{"vs":459,"vs_template_id":460,"summary":461},"IP Assignment Agreement","","A standalone IP assignment agreement transfers all present and future intellectual property rights from one party to another in broad terms. An employee authorship certificate is document-specific — it identifies a particular piece of work, records the authorship facts, and includes both an assignment and a work-made-for-hire declaration. Use the certificate for individual deliverables where you need granular evidence of ownership; use a broad IP assignment agreement as a baseline clause in the employment contract.",{"vs":107,"vs_template_id":233,"summary":463},"An independent contractor agreement governs a self-employed individual's engagement and typically includes an IP assignment clause. Work made for hire doctrine does not automatically apply to contractors the way it does to employees, so the IP assignment provisions are even more critical. An employee authorship certificate is specific to the employer-employee relationship and relies partly on the work-made-for-hire doctrine — it is not appropriate for contractor engagements.",{"vs":240,"vs_template_id":241,"summary":465},"An NDA restricts an employee from disclosing confidential information belonging to the employer. It does not transfer IP ownership. An employee authorship certificate confirms and transfers ownership of specific work product. The two documents serve complementary purposes — the NDA protects against disclosure; the certificate secures ownership — and are often used together when an employee has created sensitive proprietary work.",{"vs":467,"vs_template_id":245,"summary":468},"Employment Contract with IP Assignment Clause","An employment contract with an IP assignment clause broadly assigns future work product to the employer at the outset of the relationship. An employee authorship certificate is a transaction-specific record executed when a particular work is completed. The employment contract creates the framework; the certificate provides the specific evidence. For high-value IP, both documents are needed — the contract as the foundation and the certificate as the proof for each significant deliverable.",{"use_template":470,"template_plus_review":474,"custom_drafted":478},{"best_for":471,"cost":472,"time":473},"Standard domestic employees creating routine deliverables where an employment contract already includes a general IP assignment clause","Free","15–20 minutes per certificate",{"best_for":475,"cost":476,"time":477},"Employees in Canada, the UK, or the EU; high-value software or patentable inventions; situations where the employment contract lacks an IP clause","$300–$800 for a one-time legal review of the template and jurisdiction-specific tailoring","1–3 days",{"best_for":479,"cost":480,"time":481},"Pre-acquisition IP cleanup, patent prosecution support, multi-jurisdiction teams, or situations involving disputed authorship or embedded third-party materials","$1,000–$4,000+","1–2 weeks",[483,488,493,498],{"code":484,"name":485,"flag_asset_id":486,"note":487},"us","United States","flag-us","Under the US Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 101), works created by employees within the scope of employment are works made for hire owned by the employer from creation. However, certain categories of commissioned works require a written agreement to qualify. California Labor Code § 2870 limits IP assignment clauses — they cannot reach work created entirely on an employee's own time, without employer resources, and unrelated to the employer's business. Include a fallback assignment clause alongside the work-made-for-hire declaration to cover any works that fall outside the statutory definition.",{"code":489,"name":490,"flag_asset_id":491,"note":492},"ca","Canada","flag-ca","The Canadian Copyright Act (s. 13(3)) provides that an employer owns the copyright in a work created by an employee in the course of employment unless there is a contrary agreement. Moral rights, however, cannot be assigned — only waived — under Canadian law (s. 14.1). Use explicit waiver language rather than assignment language for moral rights provisions. Quebec's civil law framework may impose additional formality requirements; consider notarized execution for significant IP assets in Quebec.",{"code":494,"name":495,"flag_asset_id":496,"note":497},"uk","United Kingdom","flag-uk","Under the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (s. 11(2)), works created by an employee in the course of employment are owned by the employer. Moral rights under the CDPA can be waived in writing. The certificate should specify that the waiver is irrevocable and covers all forms of the work. For employees who may also hold design rights or database rights in their output, ensure the assignment clause expressly covers these additional IP categories, which are treated separately under UK law.",{"code":499,"name":500,"flag_asset_id":501,"note":502},"eu","European Union","flag-eu","EU copyright law does not harmonize work-made-for-hire rules — ownership of employee-created works is governed by national law, which varies significantly across member states. Germany, France, and the Netherlands each have distinct statutory provisions on employer ownership. Moral rights are strongly protected in most EU member states (particularly France under droit moral) and waivers may be unenforceable. For employees in EU jurisdictions, obtain country-specific legal review before executing the certificate, and consider a bilateral IP assignment clause rather than relying solely on a work-made-for-hire declaration.",[245,233,241,504,505,506,507,508,509,510,511,512],"employment-agreement-executive-D543","job-offer-letter-long-D12769","fixed-term-contract-D13225","remote-work-agreement-D13282","employee-handbook-D712","employee-dismissal-letter-D508","temporary-employment-contract-D12734","general-non-compete-agreement-D882","confidentiality-agreement-D950",{"emit_how_to":194,"emit_defined_term":194},{"primary_folder":103,"secondary_folder":515,"document_type":516,"industry":517,"business_stage":518,"tags":519,"confidence":525},"intellectual-property-and-licensing","agreement","general","all-stages",[520,521,522,523,524],"intellectual-property","nda","legal","employee-authorship","work-product-assignment",0.95,"\u003Ch2>What is an Employee Authorship Certificate?\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>An \u003Cstrong>Employee Authorship Certificate\u003C/strong> is a legally binding document in which an employee certifies that a specific piece of work product — software, written content, a design, a technical drawing, or any other creative output — was created within the scope of their employment, and formally assigns or confirms the employer's ownership of all intellectual property rights in that work. It combines a factual statement of authorship with a work-made-for-hire declaration, a fallback IP assignment, third-party representations, and a moral rights waiver into a single signed record. Unlike a general IP assignment clause buried in an employment agreement, an authorship certificate is tied to a particular deliverable identified by name, date, and description — giving the employer specific, auditable evidence of a clean chain of title for each significant work product.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>Why You Need This Document\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Without a signed authorship certificate, your employer's ownership of an employee's creative output rests entirely on the work-made-for-hire doctrine and any general IP clause in the employment contract — neither of which provides the deliverable-specific evidence that investors, acquirers, and licensees require during due diligence. A missing or ambiguous IP paper trail is one of the most common reasons technology acquisitions are delayed, repriced, or unwound: if ownership of a core software module cannot be cleanly traced back to a signed document, the buyer's legal team will flag it as an unacceptable risk. Beyond transactions, a departing employee who has not signed an authorship certificate for key work can threaten to assert residual copyright or moral rights claims — demanding attribution, objecting to modifications, or asserting partial co-ownership. Executing a certificate for each significant deliverable, at the moment of completion, closes these gaps for the cost of 20 minutes per document and a legal review where the work has material commercial value.\u003C/p>\n",1778696358569]