» This article's on the legal term. For the keyboard company, see Novation Digital Music Systems; for the former modem manufacturer, see Novation CAT. Novation's a term used in contract law and business law to describe the act of either replacing an obligation to perform with a new obligation, or replacing a party to an agreement with a new party. In contrast to an assignment, which's valid so long as the obligee (person receiving the benefit of the bargain)'s given notice, a novation's valid o… (More on Novation)