What rights do joint owners of a patent have?

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Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-09 10 Rules 5 Related FAQs This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice. Joint owners of a patent have specific rights as outlined in 35 U.S.C. 262, which states: ‘In the absence of any agreement to the contrary, each of the joint owners of a patent may make, use, offer to sell, or sell the patented invention within the United States, or import the patented invention into the United States, without the consent of and without accounting to the other owners.’ This means that each joint owner can independently exercise the full rights of the patent without needing permission from or owing compensation to the other joint owners, unless they have a separate agreement stating otherwise. Related Rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 10 rules Collapse Each Joint Owner Can Use Patent Without Consent MPEP 301 Permitted Record of Patents and Applications Required MPEP 301 Required Definitions for Ownership and Assignability of Patents and Applications MPEP 301 Required Assignment of Patent Must Be in Writing MPEP 301 License Transfers Limited Patent Rights MPEP 301 Permitted Assignment of Patent Rights Permitted MPEP 301 Permitted Patent Owner Can Grant Exclusive License to Licensee MPEP 301 Permitted Assignment of Patents Must Be in Writing MPEP 301 Required Patent Owner Exclusion Right MPEP 301 Assignment of Patent Transfers Ownership MPEP 301 Other Related FAQs 5 FAQs Collapse What information is available in USPTO patent assignment records? How does the USPTO handle confidential patent assignment information? What is the significance of recording a patent assignment? Are all patent assignment records publicly accessible? What information is available in the USPTO&#8217;s assignment database?