12/16/12

Shop Rights

NotJust Patents
LegalServices
POBox18716,Minneapolis,MN55418 16515007590 info@notjustpatents.com
TrademarkandPatent Attorneys ChangesToImplement theFirstInventorTo FileProvisionsofthe LeahySmithAmerica InventsAct TrademarkScams USPTOFeeSchedule Examplesof Enablement Requirement ShopRights CeaseandDesist Letters ResponsetoOffice Action ExampleofOffice ActionandResponse AnotherExampleOffice Action&Response WhichPatent Application? StepstoPatent Stepsto Trademark TradeSecrets AntiCounterfeit Copyrights Authorize.netPayment Callusat1651500 7590

NotJustPatents.com
GettingtheRightHelpCanMeanBetterResults FactsMatter
SearchNotJustPatentssites:

Search

PATENTOWNERSHIP/SHOPRIGHTS Whoownsyourinventionifyou createditatyouremployers workplace? Acommonlawrightcalledshop rightsmaygovernandwhetherthe employeeortheemployerownsthe inventiondependsonthefactsand circumstancesofeachcase.Rightsarenot universalandvaryfromstatetostate. Factorsinclude: *Employmentcontracts(anemployee mayassignallrightstoinventionstoan employer) *TheintentionsofthepartiesWasthe employeehiredtoinvent? *Thenatureofthebusiness *Thenatureoftheinvention *Thecircumstancesinvolvingthe creationoftheinventionIstheinvention relatedtotheemployeesjobfunction,was itmadeusingtheemployerstools,or otherresources? Oneexampleofastatestatuteisthe MinnesotaStatutefoundat: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/? id=181.78 Section181.78AgreementsTerms RelatingtoInventions 181.78AGREEMENTSTERMS RELATINGTOINVENTIONS. Subdivision1.Inventionsnotrelatedto employment. Anyprovisioninanemployment agreementwhichprovidesthatan employeeshallassignoroffertoassign anyoftheemployee'srightsinan inventiontotheemployershallnotapply toaninventionforwhichnoequipment, supplies,facilityortradesecretinformation

Anotherexampleofastatestatuteis theCaliforniastatutefoundat: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi bin/displaycode?section=lab&group=02001 03000&file=28702872 LABORCODESECTION28702872 2870.(a)Anyprovisioninan employmentagreementwhichprovidesthat anemployeeshallassign,oroffertoassign, anyofhisorherrightsinaninventiontohis orheremployershallnotapplytoan inventionthattheemployeedeveloped entirelyonhisorherowntimewithout usingtheemployer'sequipment,supplies, facilities,ortradesecretinformationexcept forthoseinventionsthateither:(1)Relate atthetimeofconceptionorreductionto practiceoftheinventiontotheemployer's business,oractualordemonstrably anticipatedresearchordevelopmentofthe employeror(2)Resultfromanywork performedbytheemployeeforthe employer.(b)Totheextentaprovisionin anemploymentagreementpurportsto requireanemployeetoassignaninvention otherwiseexcludedfrombeingrequiredto beassignedundersubdivision(a),the provisionisagainstthepublicpolicyofthis stateandisunenforceable. 2871.Noemployershallrequirea provisionmadevoidandunenforceableby Section2870asaconditionofemployment orcontinuedemployment.Nothinginthis articleshallbeconstruedtoforbidorrestrict therightofanemployertoprovidein contractsofemploymentfordisclosure, providedthatanysuchdisclosuresbe receivedinconfidence,ofallofthe employee'sinventionsmadesolelyorjointly withothersduringthetermofhisorher

notjustpatents.com/shoprights.html

1/4

12/16/12

supplies,facilityortradesecretinformation oftheemployerwasusedandwhichwas developedentirelyontheemployee'sown time,and(1)whichdoesnotrelate(a) directlytothebusinessoftheemployeror (b)totheemployer'sactualor demonstrablyanticipatedresearchor development,or(2)whichdoesnotresult fromanyworkperformedbytheemployee fortheemployer.Anyprovisionwhich purportstoapplytosuchaninventionisto thatextentagainstthepublicpolicyofthis stateandistothatextentvoidand unenforceable. Subd.2.Effectofsubdivision1. Noemployershallrequireaprovision madevoidandunenforceableby subdivision1asaconditionof employmentorcontinuingemployment. Subd.3.Noticetoemployee. Ifanemploymentagreemententered intoafterAugust1,1977containsa provisionrequiringtheemployeetoassign oroffertoassignanyoftheemployee's rightsinanyinventiontoanemployer,the employermustalso,atthetimethe agreementismade,provideawritten notificationtotheemployeethatthe agreementdoesnotapplytoaninvention forwhichnoequipment,supplies,facility ortradesecretinformationoftheemployer wasusedandwhichwasdeveloped entirelyontheemployee'sowntime,and (1)whichdoesnotrelate(a)directlytothe businessoftheemployeror(b)tothe employer'sactualordemonstrably anticipatedresearchordevelopment,or(2) whichdoesnotresultfromanywork performedbytheemployeeforthe employer.

Shop Rights

withothersduringthetermofhisorher employment,areviewprocessbythe employertodeterminesuchissuesasmay arise,andforfulltitletocertainpatentsand inventionstobeintheUnitedStates,as requiredbycontractsbetweentheemployer andtheUnitedStatesoranyofitsagencies. 2872.Ifanemploymentagreement enteredintoafterJanuary1,1980,contains aprovisionrequiringtheemployeetoassign oroffertoassignanyofhisorherrightsin anyinventiontohisorheremployer,the employermustalso,atthetimethe agreementismade,provideawritten notificationtotheemployeethatthe agreementdoesnotapplytoaninvention whichqualifiesfullyundertheprovisionsof Section2870.Inanysuitoractionarising thereunder,theburdenofproofshallbeon theemployeeclaimingthebenefitsofits provisions. MOREINFORMATION: Teetsv.ChromalloyGasTurbineCorp., 83F.3d403,407(Fed.Cir.1996)(finding impliedinfactcontractwhennowritten agreementexistedbetweenprojectleader andemployer). http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F3/83/8 3.F3d.403.951389.951379.htmlforthe fullcasetext. Somestateshavepassedlawstolimiting employersownershipclaimsover employeeinventions.Examplesofstatutes thatprotectinventionscreatedbythe employeeinclude: California, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, NorthCarolina, Utah, Washington.

Call16515007590oremailinfo@notjustpatents.comforResponsestoOfficeActionFileorDefend anOppositionorCancellationPatentorTrademarkSearchesandApplicationSendorRespondto CeaseandDesistLetters. FormoreinformationfromNotJustPatents,seeourothersites.

notjustpatents.com/shoprights.html 2/4

12/16/12

Shop Rights

Patents StepstoaPatentHowtoPatentAnInvention StepstoaPatentSearch ShouldIGetATrademarkorPatent? PatentabilityEvaluation 35U.S.C.101Inventionspatentable. 35U.S.C.102Conditionsforpatentability noveltyandlossofrighttopatent. 35U.S.C.103Conditionsforpatentabilitynon obvioussubjectmatter. 35U.S.C.282Presumptionofvaliditydefenses 37CFR1.53Applicationnumber,filingdate, andcompletionofapplication FilingRequirementsforPatentApplications ListofU.S.PatentClassifications HowDoU.S.PatentClassificationsWork? PatentStatisticsSamplePatent,Trademark& CopyrightInventoryForms ProximateFunction InventionInformationWhatistheInvention? PatentFieldofSearch PatentsearchNewinvention PatentSearchNonObvious DifferencebetweenProvisionaland NonprovisionalPatentApplication ConvertingProvisionaltoNonprovisionalPatent Application(orclaimingbenefitof) ShopRights PatentPendingseealsoPatentMarking PatentDrawings

Trademarks StrongTrademarkEnforcingTradeNameRights StepstoCommonLawTrademarkRights TrademarkDisclaimersWhatarethey,standardformats,etc. ExamplesofDisclaimersBusinessNameCeaseandDesist VerifyaTrademarkWhyVerifyaTrademark? UsingSlogans(Taglines),ModelNumbersasTrademarks Whichformat?WhenShouldIUseStandardCharacters? TrademarkStatisticsBusinessNameCeaseandDesistLetters HowToAnswerATrademarkCeaseandDesistLetter TrademarkRefusalsDoesnotFunctionasaMarkRefusals AcceptableSpecimenSupplementalRegister WhatDoesAUSPTOTrademarkApplicationLookLike? TrademarkAttorneyforOvercomingOfficeActions FunctionalTrademarksHowtoTrademark GroundsforOpposition&CancellationCeaseandDesistLetter Valid/InvalidUseofTrademarksTrademarkSearching ExamplesandGeneralRulesforLikelihoodofConfusion USPTOSearchMethodforLikelihoodofConfusion ExamplesofRefusalsforLikelihoodofConfusionDuPontFactors ColorasTradeDress3DMarksasTradeDress OrnamentalRefusal(atypeofSpecimenRefusal) InherentlyDistinctiveTrademarks MerelyDescriptiveTrademarksMerelyDescriptiveRefusals RegisteraTrademarkStepbyStep LikelihoodofconfusionCircuitCourttests HowtoReplytoaCeaseandDesistLetter PseudoMarksRegistrationOfATrademark.com WhatDoesUseinCommerceMean?SCAMLetters Section2(d)RefusalsApplyToTrademark.com TypicalBrandNameRefusalsWhatisaFamilyofMarks? TrademarkStepsTrademarkRegistrationAnswersTESS TrademarkSearchingUsingTESSTrademarkSearchTips TSDRTrademarkStatusandDocumentRetrieval PublishedforOppositionseealsoOppositionSteps/CancellationSteps CounterclaimsandAffirmativeDefenses ProtectingTrademarkRights(CommonLaw) StepsinaTrademarkOppositionProcessHowdoIKnowIfSomeone HasFiledforAnExtensionofTimetoOpppose? WhatistheDifferencebetweenPrincipal&SupplementalRegister? WhatIfSomeoneFilesAnOppositionAgainstMyTrademark? HowtoRespondtoOfficeActions TrademarkClearanceSearchDontStopataWeakMark IDofGoodsandServicesseealsoHeadings(list)ofInternational TrademarkClasses GeographicallyDescriptiveorDeceptive TTAB/TBMPDiscoveryConferences&Stipulations TBMP113ServiceofTTABDocumentsTBMP309Standing TrademarkIncontestabilityTTABManual(TBMP) WhatareAbandonedTrademarks?CanIUseAnAbandoned Trademark?CanIAbandonaTrademarkDuringAnOpposition?
3/4

ReductiontoPractice HowtoRespondtoOfficeActions WhatisaCompactPatentProsecution? ChangesToImplementtheFirstInventorToFile ProvisionsoftheAmericaInventsAct Patentsteps PCTPatentApplicationinformation ProvisionalPatentEffectonPatentability SamplesofResponsestoOfficeActions BroadPatents MakingAmendmentsinResponsetoOffice Actions ExamplesOfficeActionResponsesMore Examples TradeSecrets
notjustpatents.com/shoprights.html

12/16/12

Shop Rights

State&FederalTradeSecretLaws ChartofPatentvs.TradeSecret HowtoKeepATradeSecret

DifferencesbetweenTEASandTEASplus WhatDoesPublishedforOppositionMean? AcquiredDistinctivenessExtensionofTimetoOppose

20082012AllRightsReserved.NotJustPatentsLLC,POBox18716,Minneapolis,MN55418. Call:16515007590oremail:info@notjustpatents.com.Thiswebsiteisforinformationalpurposesonlyandis providedwithoutwarranties,expressorimplied,regardingtheinformation'saccuracy,timeliness,orcompleteness anddoesnotconstitutelegaladvice.Noattorney/clientrelationshipexistswithoutawrittencontractbetweenNot JustPatentsLLCanditsclient.PrivacyPolicyContactUsSeeusatNotJustPatents.com

notjustpatents.com/shoprights.html

4/4