IT, online stores and brand protection · Czechia and Slovakia
Copyright and licensing
We prepare licence agreements and arrange copyright in software, graphics, text, photographs and music under Slovak Copyright Act No. 185/2015 Z. z. and Czech law. We clearly define licence scope, territory, duration and whether you may modify and redistribute the work, helping avoid rights disputes.
- Software, design, content and photographs
- For creators and commissioning clients
- Prices agreed upfront
What we'll do for you
Preparing a licence agreement or copyright arrangements for a Czech or Slovak party, including scope and protection.
Select an item to see the details.
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Initial consultation
We review the work, its author and your precise objective — a licence or the broadest possible rights in the output.
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Tailored licence agreement
Scope, exclusivity, territory, duration, remuneration and use conditions, including modification and sublicensing.
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Rights in the output
For commissioned work, we arrange the necessary rights, including source code and copyright-protected components.
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Moral and economic rights
We explain the distinction between a licence, the exercise of economic rights and the author's non-transferable rights, and structure an agreement that withstands scrutiny.
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Protection and enforcement
For infringement, we prepare a demand and recommend next steps, including compensation claims.
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Document delivery
You receive the final agreement ready for signing, with key provisions explained.
Deliverablea licence agreement or arrangements for rights in a work, ready for signing
How it works
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- Consultationday 0
We identify the work and which side you represent, determining the agreement's content and focus.
- Draft agreement
We prepare a tailored licence agreement or review a supplied draft and flag risks.
- Finalising and signingto suit you
We resolve disputed points, prepare the clean version and explain what each provision means for you.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We usually reply within 24 hours with a price confirmation and next steps. The first 30-minute consultation is free and commits you to nothing.
- 1Send your enquiry via this form
- 2Usually within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
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What clients ask
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Does buying a work automatically give me all rights?
Not necessarily. Paying for creation does not necessarily grant every right to use the work. The scope must be expressly agreed; otherwise, you may receive only a limited licence. We therefore recommend arranging rights before commissioning.
How do exclusive and non-exclusive licences differ?
An exclusive licence permits only the licensee to use the work within the agreed scope, and the author may not grant it to others. A non-exclusive licence allows the author to license the same work to others. The choice depends on whether you need exclusivity; we advise on the suitable option.
Can copyright be transferred to me entirely?
No. Under Slovak and Czech law, both the moral and the economic rights of the author are non-transferable (§ 18(3) and § 20(2) of Slovak Act No. 185/2015 Z. z., § 11(4) and § 26(1) of Czech Act No. 121/2000 Sb.). Use of the work is therefore secured by a licence, exclusive and as broad as you need. A different regime applies to employee works and to computer programs created to order, where the employer or the commissioning party exercises the economic rights unless agreed otherwise (§ 90(4) and § 91(4) of the Slovak Act, § 58(1) and (7) of the Czech Act). We structure the agreement to give you the maximum the law permits.
How do I protect software or design against copying?
A copyright work is protected upon creation without registration. A good agreement, evidence of authorship and creation date and, for a brand or logo, a trademark strengthen protection. For infringement, we prepare a demand and compensation claims.
Who holds rights in an employee-created work?
The employer generally exercises economic rights in an employee work unless agreed otherwise. For external contractors, the type of work and the agreement must be distinguished. In Slovakia, a computer program created on commission is subject to the special regime under § 91(4) of the Copyright Act, applying the rules on employee works; Czech law has its own provisions. We therefore examine the statutory exercise of rights as well as any licence. We address both situations in the agreement so that it is clear who exercises the rights.
Can you prepare a bilingual licence agreement?
Yes. For cross-border cooperation, we prepare a bilingual agreement and align Czech and Slovak, or English, terminology so both versions mean the same thing.
Legal Q&A
Common questions on this topic
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Who owns the copyright in software created for me by a supplier?
An author's economic rights are non-transferable. A program commissioned directly from its author generally falls under the employee-work regime, and the customer exercises the rights unless the parties agree otherwise. Where a company supplies the software, however, the customer does not automatically obtain every entitlement: rights from its employees and subcontractors must be checked, and an appropriate licence or an assignment of the right to exercise economic rights must be agreed. The contract should also address source code, modifications and further licensing.
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Can self-employed contractors, such as developers outside employment, also receive ESOP equity?
In a simple joint-stock company, yes. Section 220r(1)(b) of the Commercial Code expressly covers not only employees but also individuals operating under a trade licence or other authorisation whose work for the company is protected by intellectual property rights. In a joint-stock company, the statutory shortcuts apply only to employees. In an s. r. o., contractors are accommodated through options over members' interests or phantom equity.
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As a developer, do I own the copyright in the design documentation?
Design documentation is protected by copyright if it constitutes a unique result of creative intellectual activity. A technical document or its designation as design documentation does not in itself attract protection. For a protected design, the author is the designer or architect who created it through their own creative activity. Commissioning a design gives you a licence to use it for the purpose arising from the contract, not unlimited rights. Other uses, particularly building the same design again or having another designer alter it, require a specific agreement; moreover, the author’s economic rights cannot be transferred.
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Further reading
Influencer content in brand advertising: what the licence to photos and videos must contain
A brand pays for a post and then finds it may not use the video in paid advertising or on its website. Where the contract is silent, the Copyright Act grants a licence only to the extent needed for the purpose of the collaboration and, unless that purpose implies otherwise, only for Slovakia and for a maximum of one year. This article explains what a contract with a creator must contain so that the content still works after the campaign.
Read more →
A logo from a designer as a trademark: without a licence you risk oppositions and a dispute over rights
A logo is often the designer’s work of authorship, and a paid invoice does not yet make it fully your logo. Anyone wishing to register it as a trademark needs a licence from the author that expressly covers registration, modifications and worldwide use. Otherwise oppositions, invalidity of the trademark and problems when selling the company are all in prospect.
Read more →
A competitor has copied your website, texts or photographs: what copyright offers and what unfair competition offers
Texts taken over, product photographs or an imitated e-shop layout can be addressed under two legal regimes at once. This article explains when website content is a protected work, what can be claimed from the infringer and how financial compensation is calculated. It is for e-shops and companies whose content has appeared on someone else’s website.
Read more →