# Intellectual Property Audit > Audits IP assets with trademark, copyright, trade secret, and patent inventory and protection recommendations. Use when assessing and organizing your business IP portfolio. - Skill: `reaperinvest/intellectual-property-audit` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/intellectual-property-audit` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/intellectual-property-audit/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Security - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/intellectual-property-audit --- # Intellectual Property Audit ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Inventory all intellectual property assets in your business - Identify unprotected IP that needs registration or documentation - Assess IP risks such as infringement exposure or gaps in protection - Create an IP management plan with action items and timelines **DO NOT** use this skill for filing applications (use trademark-application), drafting agreements, or legal disputes. This is for auditing and organizing your IP portfolio. Consult an IP attorney for legal strategy. --- ## Core Principle YOUR IP IS OFTEN YOUR MOST VALUABLE BUSINESS ASSET — IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU OWN, YOU CANNOT PROTECT IT, LICENSE IT, OR LEVERAGE IT. --- ## Phase 1: Business Inventory ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Business name** | "What is your legal business name?" | No default — must be provided | | **Products/services** | "What do you sell or offer?" | No default — must be provided | | **Brand assets** | "What brand names, logos, and slogans do you use?" | No default — list all | | **Content created** | "What original content have you created? (courses, books, software, designs)" | No default — list all | | **Processes/methods** | "Any proprietary processes, methods, or formulas?" | None | | **Employee/contractor work** | "Have employees or contractors created IP for your business?" | Yes | **GATE: Do not proceed without brand assets and content inventory.** --- ## Phase 2: IP Inventory ### Trademark Assets ``` ## Trademark Inventory | Asset | Type | Status | Registration # | Class | Renewal Date | |-------|------|--------|----------------|-------|-------------| | [Business name] | Word mark | [Registered/Pending/Unregistered] | [#] | [Class] | [Date] | | [Logo] | Design mark | [Status] | [#] | [Class] | [Date] | | [Product name] | Word mark | [Status] | [#] | [Class] | [Date] | | [Slogan/tagline] | Word mark | [Status] | | | | | [Domain names] | Domain | Active | N/A | N/A | [Renewal] | ### Trademark Gaps - [ ] [Asset] — used in commerce but not registered - [ ] [Asset] — potential conflict identified ``` ### Copyright Assets ``` ## Copyright Inventory | Asset | Type | Created | Registered | Creator | Ownership | |-------|------|---------|-----------|---------|-----------| | [Course name] | Educational content | [Date] | [Yes/No] | [Creator] | [Company/Assigned] | | [Website copy] | Literary work | [Date] | [No] | [Creator] | [Status] | | [Software code] | Software | [Date] | [No] | [Creator] | [Status] | | [Book/ebook] | Literary work | [Date] | [Yes/No] | [Creator] | [Status] | | [Designs/graphics] | Visual art | [Date] | [No] | [Creator] | [Status] | ### Copyright Gaps - [ ] [Asset] — created by contractor without IP assignment clause - [ ] [Asset] — high-value work not registered with Copyright Office ``` ### Trade Secrets ``` ## Trade Secret Inventory | Asset | Description | Protection in Place | |-------|-------------|-------------------| | [Client list] | [Customer database with contact and purchase history] | [NDA: Yes/No, Access restricted: Yes/No] | | [Pricing formulas] | [Proprietary pricing methodology] | [NDA: Yes/No] | | [Processes/methods] | [Unique business processes or methods] | [Documented: Yes/No] | | [Supplier info] | [Vendor relationships and terms] | [NDA: Yes/No] | ### Trade Secret Gaps - [ ] [Secret] — no NDA covering access - [ ] [Secret] — accessible to departing employees without restriction ``` ### Patent Assets (if applicable) ``` ## Patent Inventory | Asset | Type | Status | Application # | Expiration | |-------|------|--------|---------------|-----------| | [Invention] | [Utility/Design/Provisional] | [Granted/Pending/None] | [#] | [Date] | ``` --- ## Phase 3: Risk Assessment ``` ## IP Risk Assessment ### Protection Gaps (Action Required) | Risk | Severity | Action Needed | Priority | |------|----------|--------------|----------| | [Brand name unregistered] | High | File trademark application | Immediate | | [Contractor work without IP assignment] | High | Execute assignment agreements | Immediate | | [No NDAs with team members] | Medium | Create and distribute NDAs | Within 30 days | | [Key content unregistered] | Medium | Register copyright | Within 90 days | | [Domain variations unsecured] | Low | Register key variations | Within 90 days | ### Infringement Risks | Risk | Description | Action | |------|-------------|--------| | [Third-party using similar name] | [Details] | [Monitor / Cease and desist / Legal review] | | [Content being copied] | [Details] | [DMCA takedown / Legal review] | ### Contractual IP Issues | Issue | Description | Action | |-------|-------------|--------| | [Contractor with no IP clause] | [Past work may not be owned] | Execute retroactive assignment | | [Employee with no invention assignment] | [Inventions may be disputed] | Add clause to employment agreement | ``` --- ## Phase 4: IP Management Plan ``` ## IP Action Plan ### Immediate (Next 30 Days) 1. [ ] [Action — e.g., file trademark for primary brand name] 2. [ ] [Action — e.g., execute IP assignment with key contractor] 3. [ ] [Action — e.g., implement NDA for all team members] ### Short-Term (30-90 Days) 1. [ ] [Action] 2. [ ] [Action] ### Ongoing - [ ] Annual IP audit (schedule for [month]) - [ ] Trademark renewal tracking - [ ] New content/product IP assessment before launch - [ ] Contractor agreements include IP assignment clause - [ ] Monitor for infringement [monthly / quarterly] ``` --- ## Example: Online Course Business **IP assets:** Business name (unregistered), 3 course titles, course content (12 modules), proprietary framework name, website copy, logo, 2 ebooks, email sequences, templates. **Key findings:** Business name and framework name are not trademarked — competitors could use them. Course content created by a contractor without IP assignment clause — ownership is unclear. Ebooks are not copyright registered. No NDAs in place. **Priority actions:** 1) File trademark for business name and framework name. 2) Execute IP assignment with contractor retroactively. 3) Register copyright on highest-value course. 4) Implement NDAs for all team access to client lists and methods. --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Assuming you own what you paid for** — without a written IP assignment, the creator may own the work. This is especially true for contractors. - **Only protecting trademarks** — IP includes copyrights, trade secrets, and potentially patents. Audit all categories. - **Ignoring domain names** — your domain is a brand asset. Secure key variations (.com, .co, common misspellings). - **No regular audit schedule** — IP grows as your business grows. Audit annually, not once. - **Treating trade secrets casually** — a trade secret that is not actually kept secret loses its legal protection. --- ## Recovery - **Contractor created key assets without IP clause:** Negotiate a retroactive assignment agreement. This may require additional compensation. - **Discovered someone infringing your brand:** Document the infringement. Send a cease and desist. Consult an IP attorney if they do not comply. - **Trademark name is already taken:** Assess the overlap (different class, different geography). Consult a trademark attorney for options. - **No IP protections in place at all:** Start with the highest-value asset. For most solopreneurs, that is the brand name (trademark) and primary product content (copyright).