Protect shared resources and establish clear IP ownership when collaborating on AI development. Track contributions, define joint IP rights, and structure successful AI partnerships.
Create or analyze AI partnership confidentiality agreements
Create a customized mutual NDA for AI collaborations, research partnerships, or joint development projects.
Create NDAReceived partnership terms from a potential collaborator? Analyze for unfair IP provisions and get negotiation guidance.
Analyze NDACustomized protections for different AI collaboration structures
Academic-industry partnerships and multi-institution research.
Companies building AI products or platforms together.
Investors gaining access to AI technology during diligence.
Critical provisions for AI collaboration agreements
Clearly defines what each party brings to the collaboration (existing models, data, algorithms) and ensures these remain their property.
Protect Your AssetsEstablishes who owns new IP developed during the partnership: sole ownership, joint ownership, or allocation by contribution.
Critical for ValueRequires documentation of each party's contributions (code, data, compute, personnel) to support fair IP allocation.
Evidence MattersAddresses who owns improvements to background IP made during the collaboration and whether license-back is required.
Negotiate CarefullyRestricts parties from using confidential information to compete or develop similar AI systems outside the partnership.
Standard ProtectionDefines what happens to joint IP, ongoing access rights, and wind-down procedures when the partnership ends.
Plan for ExitHow AI partnership NDAs apply in common collaboration situations
A tech company partners with a university to develop new ML algorithms. The NDA must balance academic publication rights with commercial protection and address student inventor rights.
Tip: Include pre-publication review periods and define patent cost sharing and revenue splits.Multiple companies form a consortium to develop shared AI infrastructure. The NDA must enable collaboration while protecting each company's competitive advantages.
Tip: Create clear "contribution zones" and define what improvements each party can use independently.A startup partners with an enterprise to integrate AI into existing products. The NDA protects the startup's core IP while enabling meaningful collaboration.
Tip: Avoid broad assignment clauses. Keep startup's background IP separate from joint developments.A VC gains access to AI company's models and data during diligence. The NDA must prevent sharing with portfolio competitors and restrict use even if investment doesn't proceed.
Tip: Include specific restrictions on sharing with other portfolio companies and define information barriers.Key points when entering AI collaborations
Before sharing anything, create a detailed inventory of your background IP with timestamps. This prevents disputes about what you brought versus what was jointly developed.
Define how contributions will be measured: compute hours, lines of code, data volume, personnel time. This provides objective basis for IP allocation if disputes arise.
What happens when employees switch between partner organizations? Define how knowledge can be used and restrict competitive hiring during and after the partnership.
Define clear exit procedures: what each party keeps, how joint IP is handled, and whether continued development rights exist. Negotiate this when everyone is optimistic.
Establish joint steering committees, dispute resolution procedures, and decision-making processes for key issues like IP allocation and commercialization.