Licensing Your Idea

Depending on the nature of your idea or invention, it may be appropriate to license it to another company as a way of getting it to market. If intellectual property protection is appropriate for your invention, it is vital to have this in place before approaching a potential licensee. This gives an added layer of protection for you, clarifies ownership, and can give weight and leverage in negotiations.

A confidential disclosure agreement (CDA) should be signed if confidential information is to be shared during discussions, and it is advisable to involve a solicitor to give advice about the type of things you should aim to get out of a license arrangement, which would normally be drawn up by a solicitor or other suitably qualified professional.

The UK Intellectual Property Office has an example of a CDA in the booklet Confidentiality and Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDA).