 If a company requests that I develop a product for them, do I have an electro property rights, or does the company? Well generally, the person that completes a patent application is the owner of the patent and is granted the rights that it secures. However, the case of an inventor who creates a process or item while employed by a company, there may be some discrepancy in who owns the patent rights. For example, vengeance created under the scope of employment may be subject to assignment or ownership by the company. While every situation is different, here are some things to keep in mind. If your employer hired you to invent something or solve a problem, your invention or solution is likely to be considered the property of your employer as they pay you to produce the item in question. Companies may also accomplish this by an expressive agreement in writing that assigns the employer the patent rights to your inventions. Although there is some gray area in this regard, inventions created on an inventor's own time using the inventor's own resources may not be subject to ownership by the company. However, there may be some causes for investigation. If your invention includes use of any company, trade secrets, or similar processes found in your job function.