Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Michigan

Selling partial ownership of patents

I am 25% owner of a private C-Corp that owns 20+ patents of manufactured items. If I sell my shares to another manufacturing company (perhaps a competitor), what rights does that company have to the patents? To what extent (if any) will they be able to manufacture and/or sell items without a patent infringement lawsuit from the first company? There is no buy back agreement with the other 25% owner or the 50% owner. The 50% partner filed for all the patents but they are in the name of the company. Does it matter if the other 25% owner and me both sell?


Asked on 6/25/02, 6:19 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Amy Ghosh Law Offices of Amy Ghosh

Re: Selling partial ownership of patents

I am an IP practitioner in Southern Cal. Generally Patent belongs to individuals not corporations but ownership right can be transferred for consideration to corporation. ransferring ownership rights in a corporation not necessarily transfer all IP rights. Before I can advise...I need to see your corporate by laws, how IP rights were transferred from the individuals to the corporation and all other documentation related to the patents. Feel free to contact me dirctly.

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Answered on 6/25/02, 1:44 pm


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