{"id":192806,"date":"2025-02-19T05:21:21","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T05:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=192806"},"modified":"2025-02-19T05:21:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T05:21:24","slug":"ip-data-tech-employers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/ip-data-tech-employers\/","title":{"rendered":"IP and Data Essentials for Tech Employers\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Technology companies require employees to engage with data and proprietary technology and develop unique software and hardware applications. As such, understanding some of the key considerations you, as an employer, should be aware of is key. While employment law applies to employers in all sectors equally, you should ensure to consider entitlements and obligations that are emphasised for your specific industry. This article explains specific intellectual property (IP) and data privacy considerations for employees at tech firms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecting your IP and Confidential Information&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your IP is a valuable asset and must be protected. The best way to protect this asset is to ensure that your employment contracts are fit for purpose. These clauses must be carefully drafted to ensure that all intellectual property rights created by the company and its employees remain with the company. IP clauses cover a number of rights, namely:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>patents;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>right to inventions;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>copyright and related rights;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>trade marks;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>trade names and domain names;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>rights in get-up; and\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/protect-your-trade-secrets\/\">trade secrets<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>Confidentiality clauses go slightly further than IP clauses and impose restrictions on the disclosure of company secrets, sensitive information and proprietary information specific to the company that could otherwise damage your interest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Data Privacy&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dealing with personal data is inevitably part and parcel of working in the technology industry, and you will need to ensure that appropriate systems and procedures are put in place to ensure <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/ongoing-legal-advice-uk-gdpr-compliance\/\">compliance with UK GDPR legislation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an employer, your data protection obligations apply not just to customers but also to employees. To stay compliant, you need clear safeguards and policies in place. These can be outlined in an employee handbook, setting out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>rights;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>responsibilities; and\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>best practices within the company.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--star\">\n    <p>You will want to ensure employees comply with your company\u2019s data protection policies and procedures. This can be achieved by incorporating data protection and privacy clauses into your employment contracts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another consideration when navigating data privacy concerns your engagement with employees, workers and contractors working outside of the UK. You may transfer data to these workers in order to perform services. In these circumstances, it is important to consider whether the transfer of data to the overseas jurisdiction is a \u2018restricted transfer\u2019.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/transferring-data-overseas\/\">Transfer of data to a restricted jurisdiction<\/a> without adequate safeguards and mechanisms could result in significant fines for your business. Data protection agreements are, therefore, essential to overcome this regulatory hurdle and can supplement your contractor agreements and employment contracts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/07\/04001038\/uk-gdpr-factsheet.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">GDPR Essentials Factsheet<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>This factsheet sets out how your business can become GDPR compliant.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/07\/04001020\/LegalVision-UK-GDPR-Factsheet.pdf\" 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Incorporating carefully drafted post-termination restrictions preventing former employees, workers and contractors from potentially poaching highly valued members of your workforce is an important consideration. You may wish to go a step further and restrict a former member of your workforce from entering into direct competition with your company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These legitimate business interests can be achieved by including robust restrictive terms known as \u2018non-solicitation\u2019 and \u2018non-compete\u2019 clauses. These restrictive clauses protect your interests beyond the scope of an employment relationship and so are particularly useful when managing your interests post-termination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>Restrictive post-termination clauses require careful drafting and consideration to ensure that they can be relied upon to protect your interests as they can be difficult to enforce where they are deemed too restrictive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tech employers and employees have a range of rights and responsibilities in protecting a business&#8217; IP and data. Properly drafted employment contracts can:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>protect your intellectual property;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>protect your confidential information;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ensure data protection and compliance with policies and procedures; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>protect your interests beyond the scope of your employment relationships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need help with hiring employees, our experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment-lawyers-lp\/\">employment lawyers<\/a> can assist as part of our LegalVision membership.&nbsp; For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents.&nbsp; Call us today on <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/membership\/\">membership page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1739941568403\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can I require employees to assign IP they create before they join my company?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, an employer generally cannot claim ownership of intellectual property created before an employee joins the company. However, you can include clauses requiring employees to disclose any relevant pre-existing IP and grant the company a licence to use it if necessary for their role.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1739941584901\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How can I stop a departing employee from joining a competitor?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can include non-compete clauses in employment contracts to prevent employees from working for competitors for a set period after leaving. However, these clauses must be reasonable in scope, duration and geography to be enforceable. Courts may strike down overly restrictive clauses, so careful drafting is essential.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><br><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"not-prose m-feedback-prompt\">\n    <!-- Thumbs up\/down bar -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__main\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__title\">Was this article helpful?<\/div>\n        <div>\n            <!--span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button--text\">Thanks!<\/span-->\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--yes\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:yes\" aria-label=\"Agree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-up fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--no\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:no\" aria-label=\"Disagree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-down fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Feedback form -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--thanks \">\n            <div>Thanks!<\/div>\n            <p>\n                We appreciate your feedback \u2013 your submission has been successfully received.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form id=\"contact-form\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--form\" action=\"\" method=\"post\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"authenticity_token\" name=\"authenticity_token\" value=\"7ad8280d8e\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192806\" \/>            <input value=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/ip-data-tech-employers\/\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenturl\"\n                   id=\"currenturl\">\n            <input value=\"IP and Data Essentials for Tech Employers\u00a0\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenttitle\"\n                   id=\"currenttitle\">\n            <label>\n                <!-- display on thumbs-up -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--yes\">\n                    Can you tell us <span class=\"font-semibold\">why<\/span> you found it helpful?\n                <\/span>\n\n                <!-- display on thumbs-down -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--no text-lg\">\n                    How can we better improve this article?\n                <\/span>\n                <textarea name=\"feedbackmessage\" id=\"feedbackmessage\" required><\/textarea>\n            <\/label>\n\n            <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--error\" id=\"form-submit-error\"><\/div>\n            <button id=\"submit-contact-form-button\" type=\"submit\" name=\"commit\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--submit\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:submit\">\n                Submit            <\/button>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Technology companies require employees to engage with data and proprietary technology and develop unique software and hardware applications. As such, understanding some of the key considerations you, as an employer, should be aware of is key. While employment law applies to employers in all sectors equally, you should ensure to consider entitlements and obligations that<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/ip-data-tech-employers\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;IP and Data Essentials for Tech Employers\u00a0&#8220;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13510,"featured_media":183574,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[20,232,495,2404],"class_list":["post-192806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employment","tag-small-business","tag-employment","tag-data","tag-tech"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - 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