Federal Patent Act: 35 U.S.C. - Primary federal law governing patents and inventions, crucial for determining patentability and assignment rights
Federal Copyright Act: 17 U.S.C. - Governs copyrightable aspects of inventions, particularly relevant for software or design-related innovations
Defend Trade Secrets Act: Federal law providing uniform trade secret protection, important for maintaining confidentiality of assigned inventions
National Labor Relations Act: Federal law protecting employees' rights, must be considered when drafting assignment terms to ensure they don't violate worker protections
State Invention Assignment Laws: State-specific laws (e.g., California Labor Code 2870) limiting scope of invention assignments and protecting employee rights
State Trade Secret Laws: State-level protections for trade secrets that may affect how inventions are handled and protected
State Employment Laws: State-specific employment regulations that impact the employer-employee relationship and invention assignment rights
State Contract Laws: State-specific requirements for contract formation, consideration, and enforcement affecting the agreement's validity
Employee Rights Notice Requirements: Legal requirement to provide notice of employees' rights regarding inventions developed on their own time
Scope Limitation Requirements: Legal necessity to ensure assignment scope is reasonable and related to employer's business interests
Consideration Requirements: Legal requirement for adequate consideration in exchange for invention assignment rights
Timing Requirements: Legal specifications regarding when assignment obligations begin and end, including treatment of future inventions
Federal Antitrust Laws: Regulations preventing anti-competitive practices that may affect invention assignment terms
