On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 4:49 PM, Robin Uyeshiro <uyeshiro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Ownership" is not a term used. "Control" can
be problematic, if the inventor changes employment. If you invent something
for which a patent is issued and assigned to your company, then you change
employment, then neither you nor the company you currently work for
"control" that patent.[RU] Your new (current) company does not "own" the patent and neither do you, if you have signed away your rights, which you are required to do for most companies in the US. But you should still disclose the patent.
This is just not correct. If the patent is assigned to the company, and the inventor leaves the company, the company still owns and controls the patent.
Ah, I see your point now. You are right about ownership, but this would become a "third party disclosure". It's not required, but is recommended under BCP 79. It's the same as if you knew about a patent held by another, unrelated company. Once you leave the first employer, you don't know what the fate of the patent is (e.g., it could be sold, abandoned, etc.) so you aren't required to disclose it (just encouraged to).