Inventors and applicants: who does what?

Although, in theory, the right to a patent belongs first and foremost to the inventor, practice shows that most patents are not filed by the inventor, but by the company to which he or she belongs.

This sheet distinguishes between the rights and obligations of each party to the invention, and hence to the patent:

• Who's the inventor?

• Who can file a patent application?

• What rights does the inventor have in relation to the applicant?

• Is it possible to oppose the filing of a patent on an invention or, on the contrary, to force the owner of the right to file a patent?

• What to do in the event of patent infringement?