An invention made during the course of an employee's normal duties, or in the course of duties specifically assigned, may well belong to the employer.
However, even where the invention is patented by the employer, if it turns out to be outstandingly saleable for the employer, taking into account the costs and time involved in making the invention, the employee may be able to claim a proportion of the benefits as compensation. The Patents Office has an informative website which has more details about how to bring such a claim.
Where the employee's invention is not part of normal duties or duties specifically assigned, an invention by the employee typically belongs to the employee.
In this circumstance, the law looks more favourably on the employee and, unless inventions are integral to the employee's duties or are an expected outcome, any inventions made will be deemed to be the property of the employee.
There are separate laws relating to copyright covering drama, music and literature. Sometimes there is an express term in the contract specifying to whom the copyright belongs. In the absence of any such term the presumption is that it belongs to the employer.
