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Startup legal advisory: do I really have to obtain it?

I run a small startup that is developing AI-based technology. We have not yet launched an official service, and we are at the stage of focusing on technology development and team building. These days, I often hear that IT startups also need to obtain legal advice on matters such as intellectual property rights, terms of use, and data utilization. We have not yet received any investment, so is startup legal advisory really necessary even at this point?

startup legal advisory

Answer

Published: 2025-06-27

Author : Kuk Il KIM

For AI·IT startups, technology development and rapid market entry are key, but managing legal risks at the early stage is correspondingly important.

This is because matters such as the protection of intellectual property rights (IP), the collection and processing of data, and the handling of personal information can all be subject to sensitive legal review.

Through startup legal advisory, you can review the legality of the business model and also check in advance the key issues specific to AI·IT startups, such as the data utilization structure, personal information protection measures, and open-source license risk management.

In addition, even before attracting investment, organizing the equity structure, the co-founders' agreement (SHA), and the design of stock option grants are essential measures for protecting the company's future value.

For AI·IT startups, a legal foundation is a field as important as the technology itself.

In particular, if you use data-based algorithms or are planning a platform service, checking risks and organizing your structure through legal advisory from before the service launch is necessary for safe growth.

Startup legal advisory can be described as advance insurance for the stable continuation of development and investment, and we recommend that you request assistance from a corporate attorney with specialized knowledge in the relevant industry.