Your freelance architect design-build contract is probably stealing your IP.
And you won't find the clause until it's too late. We scan for the exact language that takes your designs.
The IP trap in design-build contracts
You're an architect, not a lawyer. But when you sign a design-build contract, you're often signing away the rights to your own creative work. The language is deliberately vague, and by the time you realize it, the client already owns your portfolio piece.
- The contract says 'all designs become client property' — but does that include your custom window details?
- You signed at 11pm because the client said the project starts Monday and the offer expires tomorrow.
- You assumed as a freelancer you automatically own your work. The contract says otherwise.
- The 'work for hire' clause is buried in paragraph 14b, and you missed it during your 2am review.
Spot IP ownership clauses in 3 minutes
Legal Shell AI reads your contract and highlights every sentence that affects your intellectual property. You get a plain English map of what you're giving away, so you can negotiate or walk away before it's too late.
- See exactly which elements of your design the client will own (and which you keep).
- Get an alert if the contract tries to claim all future work for the same client too.
- Understand the 'work for hire' trap in seconds, not hours.
- Negotiate from knowledge, not guesswork, with specific clause references.
How to protect your designs
Three steps to know exactly what you're signing
Upload your contract
Just drop the PDF or Word file. We accept any format, no cleanup needed.
AI scans for IP language
Our system hunts for every phrase that affects ownership rights, from 'work for hire' to 'all deliverables.'
Get your ownership summary
We highlight what you keep, what you lose, and which clauses to negotiate—with direct quotes from your contract.
Trusted by freelance architects
Architects who caught IP issues
"I was literally about to sign a contract that gave the client ALL my design IP—including past projects. Legal Shell pointed out the clause and I got it changed. Saved my business."
"Thought I owned my work because I'm a freelancer. Nope. The contract said 'all intellectual property' transfers. Glad I checked last minute."
"The AI found a 'work for hire' clause buried on page 7. My client actually thanked me for bringing it up. We renegotiated in 10 minutes."
"I use this for every contract now. Takes 2 minutes and gives me actual peace of mind. Worth every penny."
Don't sign away your life's work
Analyze your freelance architect design-build contract in under 5 minutes. No lawyer needed to spot the IP traps.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a licensed attorney for legal matters.