For most companies, intellectual property (IP)—trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets—is their most valuable asset. When IP is created, the employee or consultant who created it freely (usually) assigns it to their employer or client.

But sometimes, something goes wrong. Relationships can sour. The employee or consultant can leave. Or, the person might even pass away. If any of these things happen when there is no written assignment of the IP to the company, things can get messy.