Question

As the owner, What can you do if you want the architect to only use a design on your project and never design the same building for someone else?

1) Sign a non-disclosure agreement with the architect
2) Include a clause in the contract specifying exclusivity of the design
3) Pay the architect a higher fee for the exclusive design
4) Hire a different architect for each project

Answer 1

To ensure an architect's building design is used exclusively for your project, include an exclusivity clause in the contract and consider a non-disclosure agreement.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you, as the owner, want the architect to only use a design on your project and never design the same building for someone else, you should include a clause in the contract specifying the exclusivity of the design. This type of agreement falls under the scope of intellectual property rights, and it specifies that the created design is solely for your use. It is also possible to sign a non-disclosure agreement to prevent the architect from sharing proprietary details of the design. While paying a higher fee for the exclusive design may provide an incentive for the architect, it does not legally bind them to exclusivity. Therefore, ensuring that a legal contract is in place is the most reliable way to protect your rights to the exclusive use of the building design.