Our focus is you

As a customer, there are many advantages to commissioning bespoke or custom software for your business, including creating a tailored and efficient user experience and giving you a greater degree of control over the use of the software. From a legal perspective, however, IP rights in bespoke software that you commission may still remain owned by the software developer. It is far better that there is something in writing which clearly transfers the ownership of the IP rights in the bespoke software to the commissioning customer so as to remove any uncertainty.

Once ownership has transferred to you, you may issue licences and distribute the software in line with your business plans and objectives. You will, however, be responsible for updating and developing the software on an ongoing basis to ensure it retains its value and remains fit for purpose. For this reason, you may wish to continue engaging the developer under a separate maintenance contract to undertake this for you, if you do not have the capabilities in-house.

Our lawyers are based in the UK and have offices in London and across the South East including Crawley, Gatwick, Guildford, Brighton, Horsham and Hassocks.

Please note that visits to our office is by appointment only. If you wish to contact one of our legal experts you can do via our online enquiry form.

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Insights

Insights

Business rates: Box shifting mitigation scheme

Court of Appeal sees case concerning box shifting mitigation scheme promoted by Principled Offsite Logistics Limited.

06/08/2026

Insights

DMH Stallard advises Sygna Holdings shareholders on majority investment by Apleona

DMH Stallard has advised the shareholders of Sygna Holdings Limited on the sale of a majority stake in the business to leading European integrated facilities management company Apleona.

16/07/2026

Insights

Is the M&A market heating up?

Traditionally, a period of international instability and low business growth is not good for investor confidence, with the result that prices and deal volumes drop; but that is not what we are seeing.

15/07/2026

Events

Employment Rights Reforms: What has changed and what can we expect next? 9 September 2026

Join our online workshop where our employment law experts will provide a practical update on the reforms already in force,  what changes are on the horizon, and discuss what employers and HR teams should be doing to plan ahead.

DISCLAIMER:

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED TO AMOUNT TO LEGAL ADVICE ON WHICH RELIANCE SHOULD BE PLACED. WE, DMH STALLARD LLP, DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY ARISING FROM ANY RELIANCE PLACED ON THIS INFORMATION. ANY RELIANCE ON THIS INFORMATION IS SOLELY AT YOUR RISK. The provision of this information does not create a business or professional services relationship. This information is not exhaustive and does not attempt to address every issue relevant to a particular situation. If you require advice on a specific legal issue, please contact a lawyer listed on our website, dmhstallard.com, or send an email to [email protected].