Here's how you can safeguard intellectual property rights as a software developer.

Property is fundamental in modern world, Intellectual property is one of the pillars of modern economy. IP is around of us in cart, application, music and movies. People should treat intellectual property as property.

IP here isn't Internet Protocol but Intellectual Property ??. As a software developer, you can protect your intellectual property rights by: -> Utilizing Copyrights to protect the original code and documentation. -> Applying for Patents to secure novel and non-obvious software inventions. -> Using Licenses to control how others can use your software, ensuring proper use and distribution.

Utilize robust legal agreements such as NDAs to protect confidential information, copyright assignments to ensure ownership of the code, and patent filings to secure innovative algorithms or processes.

NDAs and contract are vital, when you produce anything you should clearly understand and answer the questions : Can you produce same for the another client? Can I tell anyone what I did and for whom? etc, all of those should be discuss and agreed in contract and NDAs.

Environment preparation is part of project kick-off , during this phase you should create a guide with user roles and group, how they access code. Two additional documents, that should be linked to user on/off boarding : 1) How to add user from source control. 2) How to remove user from source control. Second is critical, cause when you are adding user is usual process. However, let us imaging some left company or project and still have access to code - this person can ruin company's life and reputation and invoke lawsuits to the court.

Monitoring usage it is part of internal security process, for sure some rules should established. For example cloning repositories, downloading code to some new devices, trying to get non authorization access.

It is crucial to have continuously run training for employees and on regular basis explain responsibilities for broken rules and agreement.

Incorporating clear terms in employment contracts regarding IP ownership and ensuring proper licensing of third-party code are crucial steps in protecting your creations.