Coinventor

A coinventor is a person who shares in the conception of an invention that is later claimed in a patent. In patent law, inventors are those who contributed to the ideas underlying the claimed invention, and co-inventors are individuals who contributed to the creation of the claimed subject matter. The term is used across jurisdictions, though specific rules about who qualifies as a coinventor can vary.

Inventorship depends on contribution to the conception of the invention as claimed in the patent. A co-inventor must have contributed to the development of at least one claim; simply performing tasks such as experimentation, drafting, or testing without a corresponding conceptual input typically does not suffice. Determining inventorship involves examining the records of who contributed to the ideas that define the claimed invention.

Ownership and rights to a patent often follow from inventorship, but they can be governed by agreements. Inventors may assign or license their rights, and in many cases employers claim ownership through invention assignment policies. When multiple persons are coinventors, they may hold joint ownership unless an agreement specifies otherwise.

Disputes about inventorship can lead to legal challenges. To minimize risk, parties should document contributions and ensure accurate naming in patent applications. If an error in inventorship is discovered, there are procedures to correct the listing in many jurisdictions, including amendments during prosecution or post-grant corrections, depending on local law.