A method, system and computer program product for managing intellectual property (IP) aspects of software code artifacts. IP provisions are separated from, but associated with, the artifact(s) to which they apply. A software configuration management (SCM) repository/system provides an SCM repository for storing artifacts. IP provisions may also be stored in the repository. The system receives a user's command to store an artifact in the repository, receives a user's selection of an IP provision applicable to the artifact, and stores the artifact in the repository in association with the selected IP provision. Applicable IP provisions are therefore identified by a user/programmer near the time of creation of the artifact. The applicable IP information is later matched with the artifact at the time of retrieval of the artifact from the system. In this manner, IP aspects of artifacts are tracked by the SCM system and current IP information is ensured.