How do business mergers affect patent ownership?
Business mergers can have significant implications for patent ownership. According to MPEP 314:
Documents of merger are also proper links in the chain of title. They may represent a change of entity as well as a change of name.
This means that when businesses merge, it can result in both a change of the legal entity owning the patent and a change in the name associated with the patent ownership. It’s crucial to properly document these changes to maintain a clear chain of title for the patent.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 300 - Ownership and Assignment,
MPEP 314 - Certificates of Change of Name or of Merger,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure