How to Perfect 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. (more…)
What is a Security Interest, and Why Should I Care?
Form UCC-1
This post explains what a security interest is, how it is used, and why it is significant.
A security interest is an interest in an asset that is intended to secure performance of an obligation. Typically, the obligation that is secured is payment of a debt.
Terminology: The person who owes money is called the debtor. The person to whom money is owed is the creditor.
Many of us grant a security interest when we buy a house. In exchange for providing money for the purchase, the lender receives a mortgage (or, in California, a deed of trust). This is a type of security interest. (more…)
Watch Out for “You Don’t Own It until You Pay”
A start-up entrepreneur recently told me about the agreement he signed with the developer of his website. The agreement has what I consider, from the entrepreneur’s perspective, a most pernicious provision: Ownership of the website, and its intellectual property rights, does not pass from the developer to his client until the fee is paid in full.
I understand why developers like this type of provision: It gives them extra leverage to ensure that they are paid. (more…)
