What Happens to Company Intellectual Property During Liquidation?

When a company enters liquidation, intellectual property can be treated as an asset just like stock, equipment or property. This may include trade marks, patents, software, website content, domain names, designs and copyright. The liquidator will usually establish who owns these assets, assess their value and determine whether they can be sold or transferred for the benefit of creditors. Ownership can sometimes be complicated where intellectual property was created by directors, employees or external contractors. Directors should therefore keep clear contracts, registrations and licensing records. Valuable intellectual property may continue to have commercial value even after the company stops trading.