Ownership of Employee Inventions in Nigeria: Need for a Paradigm Shift

Abstract

In the current knowledge-driven, private sector oriented economic development paradigm, Intellectual property (IP) is the backbone of any modern organisation. Technological development combined with globalisation have brought the issue of IP protection to the fore. The incentive theory regarding the patent system holds that incentives are given to enable ‘innovation’. The issue of ownership of employee inventions has continued to generate debates globally. The issue of ownership of employee inventions brings about an intersection of employment law and intellectual property rights. While IP law provide the basic rules governing ownership, this can be modified by contract between the employer and the employee.

Keywords: Employee inventions, Intellectual property rights, Ownership.

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/117-08

Publication date: January 31^st 2022