vendor materials
Definition
Vendor materials are the documents, tools, templates, software, designs, or other content that a vendor (someone selling you goods or services) brings to your project and owns before your working relationship even begins. These are different from the custom work a vendor creates specifically for you, because the vendor retains ownership of these pre-existing materials even after your contract ends. Think of it like a contractor who uses their own set of power tools to build your deck but takes those tools home when the job is done.
Example
A web design agency might use their own proprietary website templates and coding frameworks to build your site, and those underlying tools remain their property even though your finished website belongs to you. You can use the final product, but you do not own the building blocks they used to create it.
Watch Out
Make sure your contract clearly spells out which materials belong to the vendor and which deliverables belong to you, so you never end up in a situation where you cannot update or modify your own website or product without going back to that vendor for permission.
See which terms appear in your contract?
This definition is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney for legal guidance.