Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Patent Law.
Article 5 No patent right shall be granted for inventions and creations that violate laws, social ethics or harm public interests. No patent right shall be granted to inventions and creations obtained or utilized in violation of laws and administrative regulations and completed by relying on genetic resources.
Article 6 Inventions and creations made by performing the tasks of the unit or mainly using the material and technical conditions of the unit are service inventions and creations. The right to apply for a patent for a service invention-creation belongs to the unit. After the application is approved, the unit becomes the patentee. Units may dispose of the patent application right and patent right of their service inventions and creations according to law, and promote the implementation and application of related inventions and creations. The right to apply for a patent for a non-service invention-creation belongs to the inventor or designer; After the application is approved, the inventor or designer shall be the patentee. Where there is a contract agreement with the inventor or designer for an invention-creation completed by using the material and technical conditions of the unit, such agreement shall prevail.
Article 7 No unit or individual may suppress an inventor or designer's application for a patent for non-service invention-creation.