Protect Your Legal Rights When Sharing IT Services

Foley Partner Chanley Howell and Associate Manfred Perera authored an article that appeared on Computerworld on September 15, 2009 titled “Protect Your Legal Rights When Sharing IT Services.” The authors discuss the risks associated with a cross organization IT shared services arrangement, including significant risks related to the ownership and protection of intellectual property (IP). They note that it is critical that participating companies negotiate who is responsible for developing IP for the partnership and who will own it later, adding that agreements should be used to document IP ownership, use and protection.