Apparently, New Jersey is about to join the list of states with statutes that protect the rights of inventors.\u00a0 Generally, inventions made by employees belong to the employee, unless (1) that employee was specifically hired to invent, or is later assigned that task; or (2) there is an agreement between the employer and the employee.\u00a0 However, in most states there is no restriction on the scope of these agreements.\u00a0 Most times, an employer is content with owning inventions made using the time, material, or information\u00a0of the employer, or which otherwise relate to the employers’ business.\u00a0 However, some employers contract for all inventions made by the employer regarding\u00a0of when or where it\u00a0is made, or\u00a0to what it relates.\u00a0 It is this last category of employer that is targeted by\u00a0the bill passed by the New Jersey legislature.<\/p>\n
If the bill becomes law,\u00a0New Jersey will join the small, but growing list of states that have statutes\u00a0that\u00a0affect\u00a0employer’s claims to employee’s inventions:<\/p>\n
Employers with employees living or working in one of these states should be aware of these statutes and their requirements, or the employer may find that it does not have the rights it thought it did in its employees’ inventions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Apparently, New Jersey is about to join the list of states with statutes that protect the rights of inventors.\u00a0 Generally, inventions made by employees belong to the employee, unless (1) that employee was specifically hired to invent, or is later … Continue reading