IP transfer before payment
Review whether ownership transfers before final payment or includes unused concepts and drafts.
contract review for designers
Contract review for designers
Design contracts can decide who owns concepts, drafts, source files, final deliverables, and portfolio rights. Signoti helps designers spot business terms that can affect payment and creative control.
US freelancersPrivate first-pass reviewNot legal advice
Common risks
What to review before you sign
These are business issues Signoti can help organize into plain-English flags and questions.
Source files and templates
Check whether clients receive editable files, libraries, fonts, templates, or reusable systems.
Portfolio restrictions
Look for broad confidentiality or approval rules that prevent showing completed work.
Revisions and cancellation
Identify unlimited revisions, subjective acceptance, missing kill fees, and unclear cancellation rights.
Example
Example design contract flag
FAQ
Questions about this review
Should designers give clients source files?
It depends on pricing and scope. If source files are included, the agreement should say exactly what transfers and when.
Can I keep portfolio rights?
Often this can be negotiated, but client confidentiality and launch timing matter. Signoti can flag portfolio restrictions.
What is a kill fee?
A kill fee is payment owed if the client cancels after you reserve time or complete partial work.
For valuable IP, licensing, brand systems, or agency subcontracting, have a qualified lawyer review final terms.
Related pages
More contract review guides
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Review intellectual property clauses before signing. Signoti helps flag ownership transfer, background IP, portfolio, source file, and license risks.
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Review payment terms before signing. Signoti helps flag late payment, subjective acceptance, missing deposits, unpaid revisions, and termination payment risks.
Freelance Contract Review
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Review the contract before you sign
Your first review is free. Upload a real client contract and get a structured report with possible red flags and negotiation questions.