Who owns the code? With us, you do.
Most founders assume they own what they paid to build. Plenty do not, and they find out at the worst possible moment: a fundraise, an acquisition, or a fee hike. Here is how to tell, and how we do it differently.
$ palooza whoami
◆Assigned to you, in writing
an asset on your cap table, not a liability
Why it matters
Your code is either an asset or a landmine.
When you raise money or sell, the buyer runs technical due diligence, and one of the first questions is whether you actually own your intellectual property. If the answer is murky, the valuation drops or the deal dies. Founders have lost real money here, not because the product was bad, but because they did not own it.
Ownership is also what keeps you free day to day. No one can lock you in, raise your fees, cap your growth, or decide what your product is allowed to do. The code is yours to take anywhere, at any time.
Talk to an engineer
Not sure who owns your code?
Ask a senior engineer. Send over your setup and get a straight answer on where you stand, no obligation.
Ask an engineerThe contract red flags
Four lines that mean you do not own it.
"We retain a license to the code"
That is not ownership. It means they keep rights to reuse or resell what you paid for.
"The IP transfers once the project is complete"
Vague and future-tense. Ownership should assign to you on delivery, in writing, not "eventually".
It only runs on their platform
If you cannot take the code and host it elsewhere, you do not own it. You are renting.
They will not just say "you own it"
A straight answer to a straight question is the whole test. Hesitation is the answer.
FAQ
Straight answers on ownership.
If I pay an agency to build my app, do I automatically own it?
Not automatically. In many contracts the agency owns the code by default and grants you a license to use it, or assigns ownership only under conditions. Unless your agreement clearly assigns the intellectual property to you, you may not own what you paid for. Always get it in writing.
Why does code ownership matter so much?
Because your code is an asset. When you raise money or sell the company, technical due diligence checks that you actually own your IP. If you do not, valuations drop or deals fall through. Owning your code also means no one can lock you in, raise your fees, or decide what your product is allowed to do.
What does full ownership actually look like?
The source code is assigned to you in writing on delivery. You can read it, host it anywhere, hire anyone to work on it, and walk away with it. There is no license you depend on, no platform you are trapped in, and no recurring fee just to keep your own software running.
How does PaloozaLabs handle ownership?
You own 100 percent of the code, full stop. No vendor lock-in, no platform fee, no license we hold over you. We handle hosting, deployment, and maintenance if you want, but the codebase is yours from the start. If we ever part ways, it leaves with you.
Talk to an engineer
Ask us anything about ownership
Not sure whether you own your current app, or want ownership guaranteed on your next build? Ask a senior engineer. Straight answers, usually within a business day.