ARTICLE · 07 FEBRUARY 2008

Employee Inventions

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The essential issue with regard to inventions originating within employment arises when the employer desires the possession of the invention. In Finland, the main principle of invention ownership is provided by the Act on the Right in Employee Inventions, which states that an employee shall have the same rights to his or her inventions as other inventors, unless otherwise provided by legislation.

FinlandEmployment and HR

Linda Berggren

Main Rule Regarding Inventions

The essential issue with regard to inventions originating within employment arises when the employer desires the possession of the invention. In Finland, the main principle of invention ownership is provided by the Act on the Right in Employee Inventions, which states that an employee shall have the same rights to his or her inventions as other inventors, unless otherwise provided by legislation. This means that, primarily, the employee owns all rights to an invention made by him or her; a specific procedure and assignment of these rights is required to render the invention the property of the employer.

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