THE NEW DEAL LANDSCAPE
AI assets are becoming the norm, not the exception.
Transactions increasingly include assets whose ownership, provenance and permitted use may be difficult to establish.
Buyers and sellers need a clearer view of what sits underneath the software—and what can legitimately be transferred as intellectual property.
THE CENTRAL QUESTION
Do you know what you own, where it came from and which obligations travel with it?
FOUR DUE-DILIGENCE PRIORITIES
Reduce unknowns before the transaction.
01
Ownership and liabilities
Establish who owns AI-created code, algorithms and content; assess third-party infringement, privacy obligations and existing disputes.
02
Asset identification
Inventory algorithms, training data, code and dependencies—then verify provenance and usage rights.
03
Licences and regulation
Review open-source model terms, copyleft obligations, data protection, export controls and sector rules.
04
Protection measures
Assess security, access controls, encryption and policies used to preserve AI assets as trade secrets.
PROVENANCE MATTERS
Every AI asset needs an evidence trail.
An inventory should distinguish proprietary elements from third-party technologies and document the origin and usage rights of training data.
This enables deal teams to assess ownership, restrictions, compliance exposure and post-deal usability.
WHAT DEAL TEAMS SHOULD VERIFY
From asset discovery to post-deal confidence.
Catalogue AI models, code, data and external components.
01
Confirm ownership, creator agreements and transfer rights.
02
Review licences, privacy rules and regulatory obligations.
03
Assess security, access and trade-secret protection.
04
INFORMED TRANSACTIONS
Good AI due diligence protects value on both sides of the deal.
Clear evidence reduces surprises, supports valuation and gives the buyer confidence that the assets can be used as intended.
FROM COMPLEXITY TO CLARITY
Move from uncertainty to complete code confidence.
Get the independent intelligence you need to understand, verify and protect your software.
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