IP Assignment Clauses in Alaska: What Employees Give Up

In Alaska, employees must assign nearly all IP created during employment to their employer because the state has no statute restricting such clauses.

What IP Assignment Clauses Require

These clauses transfer ownership of inventions, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets from you to the company. They often cover work done on or off the clock if it relates to the business.

Common Types of IP Covered

• Patents and patent applications
• Copyrights in software, designs, or documents
• Trade secrets and confidential processes
• Improvements to existing company IP

Alaska's Legal Framework

Alaska follows common law and general contract principles rather than a specific employee-invention statute. Employers can enforce broad assignment language as long as it is reasonable and supported by consideration like employment itself.

Compare this to states with explicit rules by reading IP Assignment Clauses in Alabama: What Employees Give Up.

Red Flags in Alaska Contracts

• Language claiming IP created before employment or after termination
• Assignment of all inventions, even those unrelated to your job
• No carve-out for pre-existing inventions you disclose
• Requirements to assist with patent filings at your own expense
• Clauses that survive termination indefinitely

Comparison Table: Alaska vs National Norms

How These Clauses Affect Regular Workers

Trades workers who invent tools, office staff who create processes, and hourly employees who develop apps all risk losing rights to side projects. Even ideas discussed casually at work can trigger assignment.

Practical Steps Before Signing

1. List any personal projects or inventions you want to keep
2. Request a written carve-out for pre-existing IP
3. Ask if the clause applies only during work hours and on company time
4. Consult the Employment Arbitration Clauses in Alaska: What to Know Before Signing guide if disputes will go to arbitration

Key takeaway: Broad IP assignment clauses in Alaska contracts can strip you of ownership over anything remotely related to your job—review every word before you sign.

Negotiating Better Terms

Employers in Alaska often accept reasonable limits. Propose adding a schedule of excluded inventions or narrowing the clause to “work made for hire” only. Document all negotiations in writing.

For deeper explanations of common contract language, see the clause glossary on IP and invention terms.

Real-World Examples

A construction worker who designs a better safety harness on weekends could lose patent rights if the clause covers “any improvement in the employer’s field.” An administrative assistant writing a scheduling app might forfeit copyright if the app could be used internally.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney licensed in Alaska for your specific situation.

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