What is a ‘person to whom the inventor has assigned or is under an obligation to assign the invention’?
A ‘person to whom the inventor has assigned or is under an obligation to assign the invention’ refers to an individual or entity that has received rights to the invention through a legal agreement or contract. This concept is important in patent applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, as explained in MPEP 409.05:
Quote: ‘A person to whom the inventor has assigned or is under an obligation to assign the invention may make an application for patent.’
This provision allows assignees or those with a contractual right to the invention to file patent applications, even if they are not the original inventors.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 400 - Representative of Applicant or Owner,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure