UK: Software development agreements - 5 key areas to consider

A software development agreement is essentially a services agreement whereby one party (the developer) agrees to develop a software application for another party (the customer).

Such agreements serve as a roadmap for both parties to clearly establish their expectations regarding the scope and timeline for the development project, what is to be delivered as part of the project, how deliverables are to be measured (including acceptance testing), the fees payable and payment milestones the delivery and implementation process and who owns the intellectual property rights in the software.

Whilst the design and development processes can vary depending on the nature and complexity of the project, there are a number of key points that should be considered when entering into such contacts, and our Technology Solicitors can support further in this area.