The High-touch Legal Services® Blog…for Startups!

© 2009-2021 Dana H. Shultz

How to Perfect an Intellectual Property Security Interest

COpyright Office Document Cover Sheet - can be used to record an intellectual property security interest

Copyright Office Document Cover Sheet

Last week I explained what a security interest is and how it can be perfected, i.e., made effective against third parties. (See What is a Security Interest, and Why Should I Care?) This post discusses how to perfect an intellectual property security interest.

To recap, a security interest is an interest in an asset (the “collateral”) intended to secure performance of an obligation. Typically, that obligation is payment of a debt. Perfection typically consists of filing, with one of more secretaries of state, documents that identify the debtor, the creditor and the collateral.

Intellectual Property Security Interest

Sometimes, however, the collateral includes intellectual property – a copyright, a patent or a trademark. To fully perfect an intellectual property security interest, an additional filing may be required. And even if it is not required, it will not be harmful.

In summary, of collateral includes an intellectual property security interest, then to ensure proper perfection an additional filing with the applicable U.S. governmental office is in order.

Dana H. Shultz, Attorney at Law  +1 510 547-0545  dana [at] danashultz [dot] com
This blog does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer directly.