How many people can a patent applicant have?
There are no restrictions on patent applicants in our country Quantity limit, so there can be many patent applicants when applying for a patent.
Patent inventors and patentees The concept of
Before talking about the difference in rights enjoyed by patentees and inventors, we must first understand the concept of inventors. The inventor or designer referred to in the patent system only represents the person who has made substantial contributions to the patent. In the process of completing an invention and creation, a person who is only responsible for organizational work, a person who facilitates the utilization of material and technical conditions, or a person who engages in other auxiliary work is not the inventor or designer.
There is no limit on the number of applicants and inventors for patent applications. The position of the first inventor is the most important, the second and third ones have some meaning, and the rest only have the meaning of nominally participating in the project. The number of applicants will affect the application fee. If one person applies, the application fee will be reduced by 85%. If two or more individuals apply, the application fee will be reduced by 70%.
The inventor can only be an individual and not an entity
Patent inventors only have reputation rights, not property rights, which can only be changed but cannot be transferred; patent applicants or patentees can be individuals or entities, and property rights can be transferred; the applicant before the patent is authorized is called a patent applicant, and after authorization, it is called a patent right. People who have the right to apply (including natural persons and legal persons) are the patentees and have patent rights.
How to distinguish the rights enjoyed by patentees and inventors
The identities of service inventors and non-service inventors determine the rights enjoyed by patentees and inventors. The right to apply for a patent for a service invention belongs to the unit. As the patentee, the unit has the right to possess, use, and dispose of the patent, but the inventor (or designer) does not have these rights.
For a non-service inventor, the right to apply for a patent and the patent right belong to him or her. He only has the right to possess, use and dispose of the patent, and he can also sell the patent. You can transfer the right to use patented technology or obtain economic benefits by implementing patents. Some people may ask, if the patent inventor leaves the company, can he take the patent with him? Should the company pay corresponding fees?
The patent law is clear: The inventor enjoys the right of signature and the right to obtain necessary remuneration, but he does not have the right to possess, use and dispose of the patent, and cannot transfer the patent without authorization to obtain profits. Therefore, the inventor has the right to receive material incentives such as bonuses, but is not allowed to take away the patent, otherwise it will be an infringement.
Based on the above, the editor has compiled relevant content about patent applications. It can be seen that my country has no limit on the number of patent applicants, so there can be many patent applicants when applying for a patent. If you have more questions in this regard and need to seek legal help, Legal Savior Network provides professional legal consulting services.
