Intellectual Property: Employees and Independent Contractors | Practical Law
A Practice Note discussing intellectual property (IP) rights in inventions and other work product, including work made for hire (or work for hire), created by employees and independent contractors or consultants. This Note covers the default rules concerning initial ownership of and the right to use copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret rights in inventions and work product as between a company and an individual employee or contractor, and best practices for a company seeking to secure ownership of these IP rights.