Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement for Germany

Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement Template for Germany

A comprehensive legal agreement governed by German law that establishes the framework for protecting a company's proprietary information and managing intellectual property rights, particularly inventions created during employment. The document ensures compliance with German employment law, including the Employee Inventions Act (Arbeitnehmererfindungsgesetz) and Trade Secrets Act (Geschäftsgeheimnisgesetz), while addressing invention assignment, confidentiality obligations, and compensation requirements. It includes specific provisions for handling confidential information, managing intellectual property rights, and ensuring proper invention disclosure and assignment procedures in accordance with German legal requirements.

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Download a Standard Template

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5
Access for free
OR

Alternatively: Run an advanced review of an existing
Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement

Let Genie AI's market-leading legal AI identify missing terms, unusual language, compliance issues and more - in just seconds.
Upload your Doc

What is a Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement?

The Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement is essential for companies operating in Germany who employ individuals likely to create intellectual property or have access to confidential information. This document is particularly crucial given Germany's specific legal requirements regarding employee inventions under the Arbeitnehmererfindungsgesetz and trade secret protection under the Geschäftsgeheimnisgesetz. It establishes clear guidelines for invention ownership, mandatory compensation for employee inventions, confidentiality obligations, and intellectual property rights assignment. The agreement is designed to protect both employer and employee interests while ensuring compliance with German employment law, data protection regulations, and intellectual property statutes. It should be implemented at the start of employment or engagement and maintained throughout the working relationship.

What sections should be included in a Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement?

1. Parties: Identification of the contracting parties - typically the employer/company and the employee/contractor

2. Background: Context of the agreement, including the nature of the relationship between the parties

3. Definitions: Detailed definitions of key terms including 'Confidential Information', 'Intellectual Property', 'Inventions', and 'Proprietary Information'

4. Scope of Employment: Description of the employee's role and responsibilities, particularly regarding access to and creation of proprietary information

5. Confidentiality Obligations: Detailed provisions regarding the protection and non-disclosure of confidential information, including during and after employment

6. Assignment of Inventions: Provisions regarding the ownership and assignment of inventions, in compliance with German Employee Inventions Act

7. Compensation for Inventions: Statutory requirements for compensating employee inventions under German law

8. Intellectual Property Rights: Assignment and ownership of IP rights created during employment

9. Return of Company Property: Obligations regarding the return of company materials and information upon termination

10. Notification Requirements: Employee's obligations to notify the employer of inventions and potentially valuable intellectual property

11. Duration and Survival: Term of the agreement and provisions that survive termination

12. General Provisions: Standard clauses including governing law, jurisdiction, and severability

What sections are optional to include in a Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement?

1. Non-Competition Obligations: Post-employment competition restrictions (note: must be carefully drafted to comply with German law restrictions on non-compete clauses)

2. Customer and Employee Non-Solicitation: Restrictions on soliciting customers or employees post-employment

3. Data Privacy Compliance: Specific provisions regarding handling of personal data under GDPR

4. Third Party Information: Provisions regarding handling of third party confidential information

5. Use of Open Source Software: Specific provisions for technology companies regarding use and incorporation of open source software

6. International Transfer of Data: Required for companies operating internationally, covering cross-border data transfers

7. Specific Project Assignments: For agreements related to specific projects or research activities

What schedules should be included in a Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement?

1. Schedule 1 - Pre-Existing Inventions: List of employee's pre-existing inventions excluded from the agreement

2. Schedule 2 - Notification Forms: Standard forms for invention disclosure and assignment

3. Schedule 3 - Compensation Guidelines: Guidelines for calculating invention compensation in accordance with German law

4. Schedule 4 - Confidential Information Categories: Detailed categorization of company's confidential information

5. Schedule 5 - Approved Third-Party Commitments: List of approved external activities or commitments (if applicable)

6. Appendix A - Data Processing Guidelines: Specific procedures for handling personal and confidential data

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Jurisdiction

Germany

Publisher

Genie AI

Cost

Free to use
Relevant legal definitions
Relevant Industries

Technology

Pharmaceuticals

Biotechnology

Manufacturing

Research and Development

Software Development

Engineering

Chemical Industry

Automotive

Electronics

Telecommunications

Medical Devices

Artificial Intelligence

Industrial Design

Consumer Products

Defense Technology

Relevant Teams

Research & Development

Engineering

Product Development

Innovation

Technical Operations

Design

Manufacturing

Laboratory Operations

Software Development

Data Science

Industrial Design

Intellectual Property

Technical Consulting

Systems Architecture

Relevant Roles

Software Engineer

Research Scientist

Product Developer

Technical Director

R&D Manager

Chief Technology Officer

Innovation Manager

Design Engineer

Laboratory Technician

Systems Architect

Industrial Designer

Data Scientist

Biotechnology Researcher

Process Engineer

Technical Consultant

Project Manager

Patent Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Industries
German Employee Inventions Act (Arbeitnehmererfindungsgesetz - ArbNErfG): Regulates the rights and obligations of employers and employees regarding inventions made during employment, including compensation requirements and the process for claiming invention rights
German Trade Secrets Act (Geschäftsgeheimnisgesetz - GeschGehG): Implements the EU Trade Secrets Directive and provides the legal framework for protecting confidential business information and trade secrets
German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch - BGB): Contains fundamental contract law provisions, including general rules on formation of contracts, good faith obligations, and contractual duties
German Patent Act (Patentgesetz - PatG): Governs patent rights and protection, relevant for invention assignments and patent-related provisions in the agreement
German Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz - UrhG): Regulates copyright protection and ownership of works created in employment relationships
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and German Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz - BDSG): Governs the processing and protection of personal data, relevant for confidentiality provisions and data handling requirements
German Competition Act (Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb - UWG): Provides rules against unfair competition, relevant for non-compete and customer protection provisions
German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch - HGB): Contains provisions relevant to commercial relationships and post-contractual obligations
Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Patent Joint Ownership Agreement

German law agreement establishing joint patent ownership rights, obligations, and management framework between multiple parties.

find out more

Patent Confidentiality Agreement

A German law-governed agreement protecting confidential patent-related information between parties sharing intellectual property details.

find out more

Non Exclusive Patent License Agreement

A German law-governed agreement granting non-exclusive rights to use patented technology while preserving the licensor's right to license to others.

find out more

Music Copyright Agreement

A German law-governed agreement for transferring or licensing music copyright rights, complying with the Urheberrechtsgesetz and related legislation.

find out more

Joint Copyright Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing shared copyright ownership between multiple parties, detailing rights, obligations, and revenue sharing arrangements.

find out more

Ipr License

German law-governed IPR License Agreement for managing intellectual property rights transfer and usage between parties.

find out more

IP Assignment Contract

A German law-governed agreement for transferring intellectual property rights between parties, ensuring compliance with German IP and civil law requirements.

find out more

Intellectual Property Release Agreement

German law-governed agreement for releasing intellectual property rights between parties, covering patents, copyrights, trademarks, and related IP assets.

find out more

Employee IP Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing intellectual property rights and obligations between employer and employee, including invention compensation and protection procedures.

find out more

Intellectual Property Rights Transfer Agreement

German law-governed agreement for transferring intellectual property rights between parties, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related IP assets.

find out more

IP License

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for licensing intellectual property rights between parties, ensuring compliance with German and EU regulations.

find out more

Contract To Protect Intellectual Property

A German law-governed contract designed to protect intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, and proprietary information.

find out more

Trademark Assignment

A German law agreement transferring ownership of trademark rights from one party to another, compliant with MarkenG and BGB requirements.

find out more

IP Assignment

A German law-governed agreement for transferring intellectual property rights between parties, ensuring compliance with German IP legislation and regulatory requirements.

find out more

Patent Agreement

A German law-governed agreement for patent transfer, licensing, or assignment, compliant with both German Patent Act and EU regulations.

find out more

Trade Secret License

German law-governed agreement for licensing trade secrets, establishing usage rights and protection measures under the Geschäftsgeheimnisgesetz.

find out more

Patent Non Disclosure Agreement

German law-governed confidentiality agreement for protecting patent-related information and technical knowledge during business discussions.

find out more

Non Exclusive Patent License

A German law-governed agreement granting non-exclusive rights to use patented technology, including terms for usage, royalties, and compliance requirements.

find out more

Exclusive Trademark License Agreement

A German law-governed agreement granting exclusive trademark usage rights, including quality control and commercial terms.

find out more

Exclusive Trademark License

A German law-governed agreement granting exclusive rights to use specified trademarks, including usage terms, quality control, and compliance requirements.

find out more

Employee Innovation And Proprietary Information Agreement

German law-compliant agreement governing employee inventions, innovations, and confidential information management, aligned with the Employee Inventions Act.

find out more

Joint Development Agreement Intellectual Property

A German law-governed agreement for collaborative development projects with detailed IP rights allocation and protection mechanisms.

find out more

Intellectual Property Ownership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement for transferring intellectual property ownership rights, ensuring compliance with both German and EU IP regulations.

find out more

Letter Of Intent To License Intellectual Property

A preliminary document under German law outlining intended terms for a future IP licensing agreement, serving as a negotiation framework while maintaining primarily non-binding status.

find out more

Copyright Transfer Agreement Graphic Design

A German law-compliant agreement for transferring copyright and usage rights of graphic design works, aligned with Urheberrechtsgesetz requirements.

find out more

Open Source Patent License

A German law-governed Open Source Patent License granting non-exclusive patent rights under open source principles.

find out more

Trademark License Agreement Royalty Payment

A German law-governed agreement for licensing trademark rights in exchange for royalty payments, incorporating requirements under German trademark and commercial law.

find out more

Patent Security Agreement

A German law security agreement creating and governing security interests over patents and patent applications as collateral for financial obligations.

find out more

Joint Patent Application Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for joint patent application filing and prosecution between multiple parties.

find out more

Consulting Agreement Intellectual Property

German law-governed consulting agreement focusing on intellectual property rights, defining service terms and IP ownership.

find out more

Intellectual Property Lease Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for temporary IP rights transfer between lessor and lessee, compliant with German IP and civil law requirements.

find out more

Intellectual Property Contract Agreement

German law-governed agreement for intellectual property transfer or licensing, ensuring legal protection and commercial exploitation of IP rights.

find out more

Copyright Transfer And Disclosure Form

A German law-compliant document for transferring copyright ownership while addressing moral rights and economic rights under the Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG).

find out more

Copyright Security Agreement

A German law agreement creating security interests over copyrighted works as collateral for financial obligations, compliant with both German copyright and security interest requirements.

find out more

Assignment And License Of Patent

A German law agreement for patent assignment and licensing, combining ownership transfer with usage rights under German Patent Act requirements.

find out more

Patent Co Ownership Agreement

German law agreement governing joint patent ownership, management, and exploitation between multiple parties, compliant with Patentgesetz requirements.

find out more

Royalty Agreement For Intellectual Property

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for IP licensing and royalty payments between a licensor and licensee.

find out more

Simple IP Assignment Agreement

A German law-governed agreement for transferring intellectual property rights from one party to another, incorporating essential requirements of German IP legislation.

find out more

Assignment And License Of Copyright

A German law-governed agreement for copyright assignment and licensing, addressing both transfer of exploitation rights and licensing arrangements under German copyright law.

find out more

Confirmatory Assignment Of Intellectual Property Rights

A German law agreement confirming previous transfer of intellectual property rights, ensuring legal certainty and compliance with German IP laws.

find out more
See more related templates

Genie’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security:

You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

2 Docs LeftAccess Now