Assignment of a co-owner’s share

Each co-owner of a single invention may, without the consent of the other owners, assign their share or give it as a pledge or any other form of security.

Note 1 — Where one of the co-owners wishes to assign their share of the registered invention to another, they must notify the other co-owners of the offer of sale. If a purchase offer exists, where the price is equal, a right of first refusal as between the purchaser and one of the co-owners belongs to that co-owner for fifteen days; and where the purchaser's offered price is higher than that of the co-owners, the right of first refusal at the purchaser's offered price belongs to the other co-owners for five days.

Note 2 — Each co-owner individually, or all of them jointly, may bring an action before the competent judicial authority regarding infringement of the rights protected under this Act.

Note 3 — If some of the co-owners object to exploitation of the invention, the other co-owner(s) may request the competent judicial authority to compel the abstaining co-owners, and, upon payment of a fair counter-value for their share of the benefits of exploitation, may exploit the invention.