Can a patent be issued to multiple assignees or a combination of assignees and inventors?

Yes, a patent can be issued to multiple assignees or a combination of assignees and inventors. According to MPEP 307, there are two scenarios:

1. Partial assignees and inventors: “If one or more assignee, together with one or more inventor, holds the entire right, title, and interest in the application, the patent may issue in the names of the assignee and the inventor.”
2. Multiple assignees: “If multiple assignees hold the entire right, title, and interest to the exclusion of all the inventors, the patent may issue in the names of the multiple assignees.”

These provisions allow for flexibility in patent issuance when ownership is shared among multiple parties.

For more information on multiple assignees, visit: multiple assignees.

For more information on partial assignees, visit: partial assignees.

For more information on patent issuance, visit: patent issuance.