An employee has been developing a company product for the last 3 years when he decides to leave the company.That product is a glue that remains tacky for hours,enabling certain types of artwork to be performed.After he leaves the company,the employee joins another company and finalizes the glue development for his new company.Who is likely to own the rights of the intellectual property involved in the formulation of the glue?

A) the employee; he invented it
B) the original company who paid for the product to be developed
C) the new company because the product was released while the employee worked for it
D) The glue cannot be considered intellectual property.

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Brian Ochsner · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : B, Explanation :  The original company who paid for the product to be developed is likely to own the rights of the intellectual property involved in the formulation of the glue. This is because the development of the product was part of the employee's job responsibilities and was paid for by the company, which would make it work for hire and the property of the company. Additionally, the employee may have signed a non-compete or non-disclosure agreement with the original company that could prevent him from taking the intellectual property with him to a new company.

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