Jeremy gave a presentation to AIA Chicago entitled “Intellectual Property Principles and Rights for Architects,” which AIA Chicago described on its website as follows:

Jeremy S. Baker from Baker Law Group LLC will join the Practice Management Knowledge Community (PMKC) Co-Chairs as he examines design professional intellectual property principles and rights. From those beginning to navigate the vast world of AIA Contracts to seasoned firm leaders with specific contract verbiage questions, this session offers invaluable legal insight to protect our creative work. Through the session, Jeremy will review the “anatomy” of an intellectual property clause in an Owner-Architect Agreement, share the painful realities about disputes (and how to avoid them), and answer your questions.

Learning Objectives

  • Discover who owns the intellectual property rights to design professionals’ drawings and specifications.
  • Distinguish the difference between contract clauses that grant others full copyright ownership versus a mere license to use these Instruments of Service.
  • Examine the relationship between such clauses in the Owner-Architect Agreement and the Architect-Subconsultant Agreements for particular projects.
  • Apply reasonable compromises in contract negotiations concerning intellectual property to achieve win-win outcomes.