Employee Inventions

Unlike in many other countries, inventions by employees in Germany are governed by a special Employee Invention Act. This regulates what inventions fall under this Act, the conditions under which the right in the invention may pass from an employee to the employer, and what rights and obligations the employee and employer have as a result. Thus, the employee is entitled to appropriate compensation, among other things. How this compensation is calculated is governed by the official guidelines for compensating employee inventions.

BARDEHLE PAGENBERG’s patent attorneys and attorneys-at-law frequently advise employers and employees about the Employee Invention Act and the guidelines for compensating employee inventions, particularly with respect to complying with the regulations under this Act, calculating inventor compensation in particular cases and deciding on an individual process to simplify the application of the Employee Invention Act and the guidelines for compensating employee inventions within the company. Furthermore, in the case of disputes, BARDEHLE PAGENBERG’s patent attorneys and attorneys-at-law provide representation before the competent courts as well as the German Patent and Trademark Office’s arbitration board under the Employee Invention Act.