Focus on intellectual property in BIM The model produced by the architect is protected by copyright as long as it meets the requirement of originality. Generally, the contract provides for the assignment of economic rights relating to the model, allowing the Client to reuse it at a later stage. One of the primary objectives of BIM is to provide the Client with a complete digital representation of the building. This model is intended to be used not only during the design and construction phases but also throughout the building’s operational lifecycle, including for maintenance and site management. The detailed information contained in the BIM model enables the Client to better understand and maintain the building once construction is completed. The contract must specify the conditions under which ownership of the model is transferred to the Client. The clause defines the rights transferred to the project owner: the format of the model, usage rights, plans, etc. The clause must state that anything not transferred remains the property of the architect. The architect must notably retain the enjoyment of moral rights related to their work, such as the right to the integrity of the work. Regarding the transfer of rights, it is necessary to verify that all transferred rights are free of encumbrances. This is especially important when the author has based their work on a previous creation, itself protected, for which the rights were assigned to them. The author transferring the rights under these conditions must warrant that they hold the necessary permissions.