Our Intellectual Property Services
Safeguard your code, brand, and ideas with airtight IP protections. From NDAs to invention assignments, we ensure your assets stay yours — and investor-ready.
Unilateral NDA
Safeguard your proprietary information before sharing it with third parties.
We prepare Unilateral Non-Disclosure Agreements designed to protect sensitive business, technical, or strategic information when disclosed to outside parties. Each NDA is drafted to be clear, enforceable, and appropriately scoped for your industry and use case.
Scope of Work
- Draft Unilateral Non-Disclosure Agreement customized to Client’s disclosure scenario
- Consultation with Client via phone/email to confirm information covered, duration, and confidentiality obligations
- Finalize NDA for execution and circulation for e-signature
Yes, but courts often scrutinize them. NDAs that are too broad or vague are harder to enforce.
Yes. Pair NDAs with confidentiality and IP assignment agreements to ensure ownership of work product and protection of sensitive data.
Most venture capitalists won’t sign NDAs at the pitch stage. However, some strategic investors or partners may sign if sensitive technical information is involved.
Mutual NDA
Protect your confidential information when collaborating or exploring new opportunities.
We draft Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreements that safeguard shared information between parties, allowing you to explore partnerships, transactions, and collaborations with confidence. Each agreement is tailored to your specific use case, balancing protection with practicality so business discussions can move forward efficiently.
Scope of Work
- Draft Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement customized to Client’s specific purpose
- Consultation with Client via phone/email to address disclosure scope, term, and exclusions
- Finalize NDA for execution and circulation for e-signature
Yes, but courts often scrutinize them. NDAs that are too broad or vague are harder to enforce.
Yes. Pair NDAs with confidentiality and IP assignment agreements to ensure ownership of work product and protection of sensitive data.
Most venture capitalists won’t sign NDAs at the pitch stage. However, some strategic investors or partners may sign if sensitive technical information is involved.
Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (CIIAA)
Ensure all intellectual property developed for your business is owned by your business.
We draft and finalize CIIAAs to secure your company’s ownership over all inventions, creative works, and confidential information developed by employees, contractors, or founders. This essential agreement is often a key diligence item in fundraising and acquisition contexts, protecting your IP assets long-term.
Scope of Work
- Draft Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement for employees, founders, or contractors
- Consultation with Client via phone/email to address relevant ownership, confidentiality, and invention assignment terms
- Finalize CIIAA for implementation in onboarding or contractual workflows
They serve the same function - assigning inventions to the company and protecting confidentiality. The terminology varies by company or industry.
Yes. Employees, contractors, and consultants who contribute to product development or intellectual property should sign a CIIAA to ensure the company owns all IP rights.
Trademark (U.S. Identical Search)
Confirm your brand’s availability before you invest in it.
A U.S. Identical Trademark Search identifies any identical marks already registered or pending with the USPTO. This essential first step helps you avoid infringement risks, rebranding costs, and registration delays before launching a new brand, product, or logo.
Trademark services are provided through @VirtualCounsel’s trusted Of Counsel Intellectual Property (IP) firm, offering clients preferred, pre-negotiated rates and seamless coordination.
Fees include all vendor and search costs and cover up to three (3) trademark classes. Additional fees apply for searches covering more than three (3) classes.
Scope of Work
- Conduct U.S. Identical Trademark Search (up to three (3) classes; additional fees apply for additional classes)
- Deliver written search report summarizing existing identical marks, owners, and statuses
- Consultation via phone/email with IP attorney to review findings and discuss next steps
- Provide recommendations for filing strategy or alternative mark selection
No. Trademarks gain limited protection through use, and copyrights exist automatically upon creation. But registration strengthens your rights and makes enforcement much easier.
It depends on your business. Most startups should prioritize trademarks for brand protection and copyrights for code and content. Patents make sense if you’ve built a unique, defensible innovation.
Trademark (U.S. Filing – Intent-to-Use)
Reserve your brand name before going to market.
A U.S. Intent-to-Use Trademark Filing allows you to secure priority rights in a mark before you begin using it in commerce. This service includes complete support from initial strategy through registration, ensuring your filing is properly structured and monitored until your mark achieves full protection.
Trademark services are provided through @VirtualCounsel’s trusted Of Counsel Intellectual Property (IP) firm, offering clients preferred, pre-negotiated rates and seamless coordination.
Fees include all government, vendor, and official USPTO costs—covering the full process from filing through registration (including publication and registration reports), assuming no Office Actions or third-party oppositions.
Fees apply to one (1) mark in one (1) class; each additional class is $600.
Scope of Work
- Conduct initial filing strategy consultation with IP attorney to determine filing basis and appropriate classes
- Prepare and file Intent-to-Use Trademark Application with the USPTO
- Manage all USPTO filings, correspondence, and registration updates through publication and registration
- Consultation via phone/email with IP attorney to review progress and confirm deadlines for Statements of Use
- Provide guidance on ongoing maintenance and post-registration compliance
No. Trademarks gain limited protection through use, and copyrights exist automatically upon creation. But registration strengthens your rights and makes enforcement much easier.
It depends on your business. Most startups should prioritize trademarks for brand protection and copyrights for code and content. Patents make sense if you’ve built a unique, defensible innovation.
Trademark (U.S. Filing – Use-Based)
Protect your brand that’s already in use.
A U.S. Use-Based Trademark Filing secures nationwide protection for marks already in commercial use. This comprehensive service includes strategy, preparation, filing, and management through registration—ensuring that your trademark is correctly filed, published, and maintained in compliance with USPTO requirements.
Trademark services are provided through @VirtualCounsel’s trusted Of Counsel Intellectual Property (IP) firm, offering clients preferred, pre-negotiated rates and seamless coordination.
Fees include all government, vendor, and official USPTO costs—covering the full process from filing through registration (including publication and registration reports), assuming no Office Actions or third-party oppositions.
Fees apply to one (1) mark in one (1) class; each additional class is $600.
Scope of Work
- Conduct initial filing strategy consultation with IP attorney to confirm filing basis, specimen requirements, and class coverage
- Prepare and file Use-Based Trademark Application with the USPTO
- Manage all USPTO filings, correspondence, and publication/registration updates through final issuance
- Consultation via phone/email with IP attorney to review filing progress, monitor publication, and confirm registration status
- Provide guidance on ongoing maintenance and renewal filings
No. Trademarks gain limited protection through use, and copyrights exist automatically upon creation. But registration strengthens your rights and makes enforcement much easier.
It depends on your business. Most startups should prioritize trademarks for brand protection and copyrights for code and content. Patents make sense if you’ve built a unique, defensible innovation.
Trademark (Global Identical Search)
Protect your brand before you expand internationally.
A Global Identical Trademark Search identifies existing identical marks registered or pending across international jurisdictions. This essential step helps you avoid costly conflicts before launching in new markets or expanding globally. By confirming brand availability early, you protect your company’s reputation, secure trademark rights abroad, and streamline future filings.
Trademark services are provided through @VirtualCounsel’s trusted Of Counsel Intellectual Property (IP) firm, offering clients preferred, pre-negotiated rates and seamless coordination.
Fees include all vendor and search costs and cover up to three (3) trademark classes. Additional fees apply for searches covering more than three (3) classes.
Scope of Work
- Conduct Global Identical Trademark Search across targeted jurisdictions
- Deliver written report identifying identical marks, owners, and active jurisdictions
- Consultation via phone/email with IP attorney to review results and discuss global filing strategy
- Provide recommendations for international brand protection and sequencing filings
No. Trademarks gain limited protection through use, and copyrights exist automatically upon creation. But registration strengthens your rights and makes enforcement much easier.
It depends on your business. Most startups should prioritize trademarks for brand protection and copyrights for code and content. Patents make sense if you’ve built a unique, defensible innovation.
Trademark (U.S. Confusingly Similar Search)
Identify potential conflicts before they become costly.
A U.S. Confusingly Similar Trademark Search provides a deeper analysis—examining not only identical marks but also similar ones that could block or challenge your registration. This search evaluates potential risks under USPTO standards for “likelihood of confusion,” helping you make informed decisions before filing.
Trademark services are provided through @VirtualCounsel’s trusted Of Counsel Intellectual Property (IP) firm, offering clients preferred, pre-negotiated rates and seamless coordination.
Fees include all vendor and search costs and cover up to three (3) trademark classes. Additional fees apply for searches covering more than three (3) classes.
Scope of Work
- Conduct U.S. Confusingly Similar Trademark Search
- Deliver comprehensive written search report analyzing potential conflicts and likelihood of confusion
- Consultation via phone/email with IP attorney to review findings and discuss filing strategy
- Provide recommendations for mark selection, refinement, or next steps
No. Trademarks gain limited protection through use, and copyrights exist automatically upon creation. But registration strengthens your rights and makes enforcement much easier.
It depends on your business. Most startups should prioritize trademarks for brand protection and copyrights for code and content. Patents make sense if you’ve built a unique, defensible innovation.
Trademark (Global Confusingly Similar Search)
Identify international brand conflicts before they disrupt your global strategy.
A Global Confusingly Similar Trademark Search provides an in-depth analysis of similar or potentially conflicting marks across multiple jurisdictions. This search identifies not just identical matches but also variations that could prevent or challenge your registrations abroad—helping you anticipate obstacles and shape a cohesive international trademark strategy.
Trademark services are provided through @VirtualCounsel’s trusted Of Counsel Intellectual Property (IP) firm, offering clients preferred, pre-negotiated rates and seamless coordination.
Fees include all vendor and search costs and cover up to three (3) trademark classes. Additional fees apply for searches covering more than three (3) classes.
Scope of Work
- Conduct Global Confusingly Similar Trademark Search across targeted jurisdictions
- Deliver comprehensive written report analyzing potential conflicts, likelihood of confusion, and regional risk factors
- Consultation via phone/email with IP attorney to review findings, address high-risk results, and discuss international filing strategy
- Provide recommendations for prioritizing jurisdictions, sequencing filings, or refining brand strategy
No. Trademarks gain limited protection through use, and copyrights exist automatically upon creation. But registration strengthens your rights and makes enforcement much easier.
It depends on your business. Most startups should prioritize trademarks for brand protection and copyrights for code and content. Patents make sense if you’ve built a unique, defensible innovation.
Our Intellectual Property Offerings Guide
What our clients are saying
“@VC came in at a really critical time.
They actually ended up serving as a role of sales enablement by being a partner that can react quickly and get us the right kind of agreements in place with big enterprises.”
“@VC came in at a really critical time.
They actually ended up serving as a role of sales enablement by being a partner that can react quickly and get us the right kind of agreements in place with big enterprises.”
Bench Talent Cloud needed a legal partner that could keep up with its pivots, product advancements, and enterprise deal flow without slowing the business down. @VirtualCounsel stepped in as fractional General Counsel, handling SaaS agreements, MSA/SOWs, fundraising, cap table management, and even enabling enterprise sales by getting the right agreements in place fast.
@VC also represented Fulcrum Workforce Solutions (our original client) through a strategic merger with Open Assembly to create the technological powerhouse that is Bench Talent Cloud. Today, Bench has a seasoned legal team in its corner and a business that continues to grow.
“We're a tech startup, so we don't have the luxury of finding out what we owe in legal fees at the end of the month based on an email or phone call we didn't know about. So having a consistent retainer that we can really trust in, depend on, and make budgeting decisions based off of is huge. I honestly have had the best experience working with @VirtualCounsel. Not just the predictability of payments, but more so the level of service has been above and beyond any service-based company I have ever worked with. "
“With any other legal team, I’ve already had the experience that it’s going to be more expensive, more difficult, and just cause me heartache. Working with @VirtualCounsel is a HUGE difference – I tell everyone I can about how great @VirtualCounsel is, and I recommend them to anyone with a start-up or growing business. They've helped me with almost every single legal aspect of my business you can think of."
"I think the most important thing is that I felt like I had counsel. I had someone that I could rely on regularly, whenever I had a concern. They mapped out everything I needed to do for the weeks and months ahead in order to keep my company compliant, stable, and secure so that I had the space to go out and do my work and do my business."
"I actually ENJOY talking with my legal team! They do everything so fast. The communication is so fast, you’re not calling a secretary, you’re not waiting. It’s all online where you can chat very very quickly with @VirtualCounsel in Slack and get your questions answered and then, if needed, you can hop on a quick call with them and go over what you actually need to do.”
“We’re really grateful that @VirtualCounsel has been alongside us for our whole journey. Scrapping together legal documents is a bad idea, so we’re really glad we’ve had @VirtualCounsel from the beginning because those early decisions are impacting things we’re dealing with today and we’re really glad we had the whole professional structure set up.”
"I like that Daniel's team kept reminding me to attend to the foundational signatures required to keep the process moving. As a founder, I'm constantly getting my attention pulled away from the priorities -- and getting this corporation formed and initial stock allocated, was a priority (that I was inclined to drag my feet on)."
Digital is our default
FAQs
If you are collecting user data - even email addresses for a waitlist - yes. Privacy policies are required by laws like GDPR and CCPA and are expected by users. A simple, transparent policy early on builds trust and avoids compliance risks.
Yes - but only with caution. Permissive licenses like MIT or Apache are generally safe. Copyleft licenses like GPL or AGPL may require you to open source your entire codebase if combined improperly. Always review licenses before including open source code in your product.
It depends on your business model. Trademarks are generally a faster, cheaper way to protect brand identity and avoid conflicts. Patents are valuable for companies with novel inventions or defensible technology but are expensive and time-consuming. Many startups begin with trademarks and trade secrets, and pursue patents only if they become strategically necessary.
Not automatically. Unless a contractor signs an invention assignment agreement, they may retain ownership of what they create. Always use written agreements that explicitly assign all IP to the company.
Yes. Most agreements include termination clauses, either for breach of terms or for convenience, but the scope of surviving rights (like confidentiality) must be addressed.
Licenses can be monetized through royalties, per-user pricing, subscriptions, or flat fees - depending on your business model.
An exclusive license grants rights to only one licensee, while a non-exclusive license allows multiple licensees to use the IP at the same time.
Not all, but if you’re sharing software, content, or technology with users, partners, or customers - or if you rely on third-party IP - you likely need one.
You should update it whenever your business changes how it collects, uses, or shares data, or when new regulations apply to your users.
Templates often miss details about your specific tools and data practices. Tailoring your policy is safer and more effective.
Most startups underprotect their most valuable assets.
You're building without properly securing trademarks, patents, or protecting your proprietary technology.
You're worried about IP ownership with contractors, co-founders, and employees.
You're risking investor hesitation because your IP isn't properly documented or defended.
We get it, which is why we prioritize the strategic protection of your IP early on.
Your Intellectual Property Advantage
Strong IP Protection
Turn IP Into Value
Leverage in Deals
Secure Your Intellectual Property from Day One
Patents, trademarks, code, and designs often define your company’s value. We help lock down ownership with enforceable NDAs, invention assignments, and IP policies that protect your assets against disputes and copycats — so your innovation stays yours.