IT, online stores and brand protection · Czechia and Slovakia
Software and licence agreement
Licence agreements, software development agreements and copyright arrangements for code, for software companies, customers commissioning development and cooperation with contractors.
What we'll do for you
Select an item to see the details.
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Situation analysis
Who creates the software, who will use it and what you plan to do with it — these determine the appropriate agreement type.
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Licence agreement
Licence scope, exclusivity, territory, duration and remuneration — tailored to your business model.
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Software development agreement
Milestones, acceptance, cooperation, liability for defects and the treatment of work in progress when cooperation ends.
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Rights to the code
Clear arrangements on who owns what — including source code and documentation handover so you are not dependent on the supplier.
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Developer and contractor agreements
Clauses on rights to outputs, confidentiality and know-how protection for employees, sole traders and external teams.
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Arrangements for both markets
Czech and Slovak copyright law differ in detail. We prepare the agreement under the applicable law — or for both countries at once.
Deliverablean agreement ready for signature, in Slovak, Czech or bilingual with English
How it works
Does this process fit your matter? Describe it to the attorney →
- Consultationday 0
We discuss what you supply or commission and propose the agreement type and scope. We confirm the final fee.
- Draft agreementseveral working days
We prepare a draft in clear language, explaining why key provisions are structured as they are.
- Comments and negotiation
We incorporate the other party's comments and help negotiate the terms that matter.
- Finalisation
We deliver a clean copy ready for signature, bilingual with English on request.
Software is the most valuable asset of most technology companies — and often the asset whose legal position is least well protected. Code is written by employees, sole traders and external teams, sold through licences, supplied on a bespoke basis and combined with open source. Who may use and develop the software is determined by law together with the agreement. We distinguish employee-created software, commissioned development and licences for an existing product.
We write software and licence agreements for both sides. We help suppliers protect know-how and structure licences around their business model, while ensuring customers receive software they can use, develop and, if necessary, transfer to another supplier for their money. We write clearly, so managing directors and developers can understand the agreement as readily as lawyers.
For businesses operating in Czechia and Slovakia, it matters that we know both copyright regimes through daily practice. We are registered with the Czech and Slovak Bar Associations, so we structure the agreement under suitable governing law — or prepare versions for both markets together, including bilingual versions with English.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We 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
- 2Within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
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What clients ask
Didn’t find your question? Ask us directly →
We paid for development — is the code automatically ours?
This is not a straightforward purchase of copyright. For software created on commission, the special statutory regime governing the exercise of rights must be examined — § 91(4) of the Copyright Act in Slovakia and § 58(7) of the Copyright Act in Czechia. The outcome also depends on who created the software and what was agreed. The agreement specifies the scope of the rights, delivery of the code, modifications and further development.
What is the difference between a licence and buying software outright?
Under Czech and Slovak law, copyright cannot simply be sold like an object — licences and their scope are used instead. Exclusivity, duration, territory and whether you may modify and distribute the code are decisive. A properly structured licence gives you practically the same position as ownership.
Our developers are sole traders — does their code belong to the company?
Software created on commission by a sole trader may also be subject to a statutory regime similar to that for an employee work. We examine the author, the chain of contracts, the governing law and any contractual departures. We then arrange the necessary exercise of rights or licence, together with delivery of the source code.
We supply Czechia and Slovakia — do we need two agreements?
Not necessarily. We propose governing law and one agreement, or versions for both markets. We are registered with both the Czech and Slovak Bar Associations, so both versions are prepared in one place without inconsistencies.
The software contains open-source components — is that a problem?
Not necessarily, but components have their own licence terms, and some impose requirements on how you use the resulting software. We flag those requiring attention before they become an obstacle to a transaction.
We sell software to end users — do we need an end-user licence agreement (EULA)?
Yes. When selling an application, SaaS or a digital product to end customers, licence terms accepted during installation or registration replace an individual agreement. We tailor them to the product — licence scope, restrictions, liability and consumer rules — and align them with the terms and conditions and GDPR documentation.
We have an internet template — is that enough?
A template does not know your business model. The most expensive mistakes — code ownership, acceptance and liability — surface during a dispute or company sale, rather than at signing. Who holds the rights to the code is one of the first due diligence questions.
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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When does the AI Act apply, and who does it cover?
The AI Act applies progressively: the first general provisions and prohibitions from 2 February 2025, rules for general-purpose AI models from 2 August 2025, with 2 August 2026 remaining the general application date. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, however, postponed Chapter III, Sections 1 to 3, except Article 6(5): until 2 December 2027 for high-risk systems under Annex III and until 2 August 2028 for systems linked to regulated products under Annex I. It covers providers and businesses deploying AI; their specific duties depend on their role and the system.
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How long does a customer have to return goods bought online?
A consumer may withdraw from a distance contract with an online shop within 14 days without giving a reason. For goods, the period starts on receipt. Statutory exceptions include custom-made goods and unsealed goods protected for hygiene reasons. If the seller fails to provide proper withdrawal information, the period extends by up to 12 months.
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Further reading
Agile software development: a contract designed for sprints
Sprints do not fit a conventional contract for work: scope is flexible, software is delivered incrementally and acceptance is ongoing. A framework agreement with orders, budget caps, a definition of done and rules for the backlog and repository handover provides a solution.
Read more →
Bespoke software: source code, SLAs and escrow determine your control
Paying for application development does not mean owning it. Without express terms, copyright law gives customers only narrow rights. The contract determines the rest: rights to the work, source code delivery, measurable SLAs and escrow if the supplier fails.
Read more →
The end of duty-free consignments up to EUR 150: online store rules from 1 July 2026
Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382 abolished duty relief for consignments up to EUR 150. Until 1 July 2028, IOSS imports and postal or courier consignments attract EUR 3 duty per item, changing the economics of every order for stores relying on low-cost imports.
Read more →