Brooks, GA asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for Georgia

Q: Who currently has rights to patent number PP 19561

The inventor is now deceased.

2 Lawyer Answers
Bernard Samuel Klosowski
Bernard Samuel Klosowski
Answered
  • Patents Lawyer
  • Greenville, SC

A: Probably a relative of the inventor.

USPTO records don't appear to show that the inventor assigned the patent to anyone, so presumably it remained the inventor's property and passed to his estate upon death. Assuming that the inventor left a will, the patent - like other property - would be distributed according to the will.

It's possible, however, that the inventor sold or licensed his patent rights to another party via a private agreement or that a secured creditor might have rights to the patent. If so, those things would have to be sorted out in probate court. But assuming there's no private agreement, no will, and no lien, the patent should be treated according to state probate laws and would likely pass to a living relative of the inventor.

Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer

Liliana Di Nola-Baron
Liliana Di Nola-Baron
Answered
  • Patents Lawyer
  • Washington, DC

A: There is no record showing that the inventor had assigned his right to an assignee in this patent. If there is no assignee, the patent usually becomes the property of the inventor's estate.

Liliana Di Nola-Baron, J.D., Ph.D.

Attorney at Law

Di Nola IP

Liliana@dinolaip.com

Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer

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