Transferring Patent Ownership: Preexisting Licenses, Rights That Run With Patents, Encumbrances, Enforcement

Description

Transferring ownership of a patent is not always a simple matter. Existing encumbrances on the patent can impact the rights and obligations of both the assignor and the assignee. In particular, preexisting licenses can present difficult questions for both the former and new owner of the patents. For example, will the license transfer with the transfer of ownership of the patent? If not, will any of the rights and obligations under that license run with the patent regardless?

In addition, it is often the case that the prior owner will want to retain certain rights under the patent even after assignment. The former owner may want the right to continue practicing the patent or grant licenses to affiliates or customers. The former owner may also want to retain some say in future litigation or assignment of the patent. The transfer must consider, however, the impact of those restrictions on the new owner's ability to enforce the patent. The Federal Circuit recently addressed an assignor's ability to retain a right to enforce a patent for infringement occurring before the assignment. The court concluded that the assignor had transferred the “entire right, title and interest” in the patent and therefore no longer had standing to sue. Lowe v. ShieldMark, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2025). Therefore, when transferring patent ownership, patent counsel must understand these issues to ensure who can enforce the patent and the restrictions on the patent rights are clear.

Listen as our authoritative panel of patent attorneys examines transfers of patent ownership. The panel will address the impact of existing encumbrances such as preexisting licenses on patent transfers as well as the rights and encumbrances that run with the patent generally. The panel will also address how the terms of the assignment agreement may impact the new owner's right to enforce the patent. The panel will discuss how the courts are treating these issues and offer guidance for transferring patent ownership.