How to Invent and Protect Your Invention: A Guide to Patents for Scientists and Engineers

CHAPTER 10. OWNERSHIP

1. Define ``ownership.''

2. What rights do patent owners have?

3. In the absence of any contracts or agreements, who is the default owner of a U.S. patent?

4. If there are multiple patent owners, who among them can grant an exclusive license?

5. What is an assignment agreement and when might you be called upon to sign one?

6. Clara is employed by a large chemical company. She has signed an employment contract that includes a typical invention assignment clause. During her vacation she invents a new kind of zipper and reduces it to practice in her garage. Who owns the invention on the zipper?

7. Sue works for Exxon Mobil and has signed a typical invention assignment clause in her employment contract. On her fishing vacation in Canada, she invents a new catalyst to crack petroleum. Who owns the invention?

8. What is the Hired to Invent Doctrine?

9. John is an hourly worker in a large sulfuric acid plant. He did not sign an employment or a nonconfidentiality agreement. He conceives an ingenious bottle closure (a plastic cup) that prevents nasty acid spills and reduces it to practice in his garage during his vacation. Later he carries out further experiments with the cup at the plant. The company helps him to obtain a patent claiming the cup and the method of making it. Who owns John's invention?

10. Beth works for Gojo, a company that makes Purell hand sanitizer among other things. One evening after work, Beth comes up with the idea for a brand new ...