Legal Definitions - mesne agreement

Definition: A mesne agreement is a transfer of intellectual-property rights through an intermediary, usually an assignee, rather than directly from the property's creator.

Example: Company A creates a new software program and wants to transfer the intellectual-property rights to Company C. Instead of transferring the rights directly to Company C, Company A transfers the rights to Company B, who then transfers the rights to Company C. This is a mesne agreement.

This type of agreement is common in business transactions where there are multiple parties involved in the transfer of intellectual-property rights. It allows for a more streamlined process and can provide additional legal protections for all parties involved.