Denver Software Licensing & SaaS Agreement Attorneys
The most critical issues for software companies include monetizing their software and guarding against piracy. Software licenses and SaaS agreements ensure that software developers get paid and have the tools to prevent unauthorized use of their software. Sequoia Legal understands your legal needs when structuring licensing and end-user agreements.
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Why Software Licensing Attorneys Are Important for Software and Technology Clients
There is no one-size-fits-all software licensing agreement. Instead, you need an agreement tailored to suit your exact needs. It should address:
- The nature of your software
- How your customers will use the software
- Your business model for monetizing your software
- The conditions and licensing requirements you want to place on customers
For example, you need different types of licenses for beta tests vs. full releases. Your license agreements must also address different factors based on whether the user installs the software on their computer or accesses the software through the cloud.
You need a software licensing attorney with a broad range of experience with different business models, software platforms and delivery systems, and customer relationships. Your lawyer will not only know how to structure legally sound software agreements but may also suggest how you can get the most out of your intellectual property and trade secrets.
Our software lawyers have decades of experience negotiating and drafting agreements for licensing software to customers.
Get Help from a Denver, CO Software Licensing Attorney Today!
Contact Sequoia Legal to discuss your software licensing program and how to tailor your software licensing agreements to your company’s needs.
What Is Software Licensing?
Licensing agreements give limited rights to the use of your intellectual property. They do not convey ownership rights. As a result, licensing is ideal for monetizing your software while maintaining total control over its development, distribution, and use.
A license can grant or deny users of the software the right to:
- Install
- Copy
- Modify
- Sell
- Distribute
- Access source code
- Incorporate it into other products
A license also gives you a mechanism to terminate a user's access to and use of your software when they misuse it.
What Is Included in a Software Licensing Agreement?
You can include any limitations in software licenses that do not abuse your market power. Some common provisions in software licenses include:
- The terms of use
- The parties to the agreement
- The conditions for termination
- How disputes will be resolved
The heart of the license lies in the terms of use and conditions for termination. The terms of use will explain:
- The license fee
- How the software can be used
- Whether the user can copy the code
- The number of installations or computers licensed
- Whether users can incorporate the code into their products
- How you will support and maintain the software for the user
The termination section will address the grounds for termination and what happens after terminating the software license.
What Is SaaS?
SaaS stands for "software as a service." For decades, users considered software a product. But high-speed internet and cloud computing allowed the industry to treat software as a service. Instead of buying software, users buy a subscription to use software running on the cloud.
SaaS raises different contractual issues from conventional software packages. If you provide SaaS, you need a software licensing law firm that understands your business model and how to tailor your SaaS agreements to it.
Components of a Software License Agreement
Software and technology clients have unique needs in the business world. They often invest years in developing software and need license agreements to ensure that they get paid for their hard work.
- Explain how users pay you for their use of your software
- Clearly describe what users can and cannot do with your software
- Outline the support and maintenance you will provide, including a limitation of your liability if a software malfunction affects users’ businesses
Your software and SaaS lawyer will supplement these core terms with additional language specific to the services you provide to companies. For example, if you provide a graphics engine and application interface, you will explain how users can incorporate your software into their products and engage in third-party licensing.
What Can an Experienced Software Licensing Attorney Help You With?
A software license agreement attorney will provide a range of services to help you structure your end-user license agreements, including:
- Discussing your revenue model and advising you about alternative models, if needed
- Consulting with you about the provisions you want to include in your software license agreements and SaaS agreements
- Negotiating with users for licensing of your technology and software services
- Drafting agreements based on the negotiated deal points
- Stepping in as your software license dispute attorney if users violate contract provisions
Importantly, an experienced technology licensing attorney can also identify alternatives to software licenses, such as:
- Licensing patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets instead of licensing software
- Switching to a subscription model by providing software as a service
Under your business model, you might even need additional contracts for your users, including:
- Open-source licenses
- Software service agreements
- Source code escrow contracts
- Non-circumvention agreements
- Source code licensing agreements
- Software development agreements
- Click-through or shrinkwrap agreements
- Non-disclosure and non-competition agreements
- Intellectual property and trade secrets sales agreements
Software and technology clients often have unique needs depending on their products, their revenue models, and even their commitments to investors and licensors. A software license attorney will create a set of agreements to address all your needs.
Secure Your Software's Future Today: Denver SaaS & Licensing Agreements
Protect your software and your business with Sequoia Legal help in drafting SaaS and licensing agreements. Avoid costly mistakes and ensure your intellectual property is safeguarded. Let's build a strong legal foundation for your tech business.
Why Choose Sequoia Legal as Your Startup Lawyer in Denver?
The experienced startup attorneys at Sequoia Legal can make it happen for you and your team:
Deep SaaS & Licensing Knowledge
We focus on the complexities of software licensing and SaaS agreements, possessing in-depth knowledge of the legal landscape.
Cutting-Edge Legal Strategies
We stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of software law, using innovative and effective strategies to protect your interests and provide a competitive edge.
Market Understanding
We are uniquely positioned to help Colorado-based tech companies navigate the legal nuances of the local and national markets.
Client-Focused Approach
We take a collaborative approach, working closely with you to understand your business objectives and tailor our legal services to your specific needs.
Risk Mitigation Focus
Our primary goal is to proactively mitigate legal risks for your software and business, ensuring a smooth and legally secure path for future growth and success.
Comprehensive Legal Solutions
We offer a full range of services, from drafting custom agreements to handling intellectual property disputes, providing comprehensive legal protection for your tech business.
Meet Our Attorneys
Founding Partner
Andrew advises foreign and domestic companies, organizations, and entrepreneurs on a broad range of corporate and international regulatory and transactional issues.
Partner
Hunter focuses on general corporate matters, healthcare compliance, international trade laws, and anti-kickback regulations.
Of Counsel
Brian Fonville
With experience as a transactional lawyer in finance and corporate matters in New York City, Brian boasts great experience in cross-border commercial transactions, software licenses, and investment funds.
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Of Counsel
Laura A. Lopez
With experience both as a Litigator at Davis Polk & Wardwell and as General Counsel of a private global merchant advisory and investment firm, Laura provides advice on a wide range of issues impacting businesses including dispute resolution.
Associate
Christina is a recent graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she received the Irving P. Andrews Award for Outstanding Law Graduate as well as the Student Leadership award.
Of Counsel
Josh Wallenstein
Managing Member of the Wallenstein Law Group, Josh offers no-nonsense solutions to a variety of compliance and risk management issues.
Of Counsel
Being a corporate and transactional attorney, Nick's focus is in mergers & acquisitions, guiding clients through all deal phases. He also covers business formation, governance, and diverse contract drafting, serving clients nationally and internationally.
Contact a Denver Software Licensing Attorney to Help You with Your Software Legal Matters Today!
Your company’s needs are unique. You cannot rely on off-the-shelf license agreements to meet them. Instead, you need a lawyer who will tailor an agreement to your products, services, and revenue model.
Contact Sequoia Legal to discuss your business objectives, and let us create the right software or SaaS agreement to meet them.
FAQ
A common mistake happens when software developers give up ownership of their software. Licenses do not transfer ownership of your software. They only permit the use of it. An agreement should expressly reserve ownership of your software.
Your agreement should address both the software you created and the improvements made by the AI or machine learning algorithm. In other words, you provided the seed. The agreement should explain who owns the plant that grows from it.
Companies that use software licenses and SaaS agreements include:
- Game developers
- Application developers
- Software programmers
- Open-source developers
- Cloud-based SaaS providers
- Custom software developers
- Healthcare technology clients
- Financial technology (FinTech)
These are just a few examples of clients who use our services.