Q: What is IP/patent ownership assignment when filing a patent application?
I submitted a good patent with my *previous* company. And now as a part of filing, they sent me an "assignment" PDF file to sign which is odd to me and I never had an experience with signing such a file (I was going to sue the company so I'm a bit suspicious about their request).
It uses the following language. What is it exactly? What do they mean by asking me to sign it?!
....
The undersigned hereby authorize and request the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to issue said Letters Patent to said assignee.
The undersigned hereby authorize and request the attorneys of record in said application to insert in this assignment the filing date and serial number of said application when officially known.
The undersigned warrant themselves to be the owners of the entire right, title and interest in said invention or improvements and to have the right to make this assignment, and further warrant that there are no outstanding prior assignments....
....and similar statements....
A:
Basically they want you to give them the patent.
Depending on your employment contract they may have rights to it already.
Consult with an attorney.
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