Does federal law determine the ownership of patents?

Federal law does not determine patent ownership; instead, it establishes the framework for patent rights and the process for obtaining patents. Ownership of a patent is primarily determined by the agreements between the individuals or entities involved, such as inventors and employers or collaborative teams. While federal law provides the statutes and regulations that govern patents, including conditions for patentability, the actual ownership can vary based on contractual arrangements, such as employment contracts or partnership agreements.

For example, if an employee invents something as part of their job, the company may have rights to that patent based on employment agreements rather than federal law. Similarly, in collaborative projects, the contributors may establish who holds the patent rights through mutual agreements. This highlights that ownership is a matter of contractual and legal agreements rather than being directly dictated by federal law itself.