If you resign or retire, the right to apply for a patent for a job-related invention made within one year still belongs to the factory. Because invention is mental work, it can't be done overnight. If your invention is closely related to the work of the original unit, it belongs to the category of service invention.
Article 6 of the Patent Law An invention-creation made by performing the tasks of the entity or mainly utilizing the material and technical conditions of the entity is a service invention-creation. The right to apply for a patent for a service invention-creation belongs to the unit; After the application is approved, the entity shall be the patentee.
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 an invention-creation completed by making use of the material and technical conditions of the entity has a contract with the inventor or designer to stipulate the right to apply for a patent and the ownership of the patent, such agreement shall prevail.
Detailed Rules for the Implementation Article 11 The term service invention-creation as mentioned in Article 6 of the Patent Law refers to:
(a) inventions in their own work;
(2) Inventions and creations accomplished by performing tasks other than their own duties entrusted by the entity;
(3) Inventions and creations made within 1 year after resignation, retirement or job transfer, which are related to the job undertaken by the original unit or the tasks assigned by the original unit.
Units mentioned in Article 6 of the Patent Law include temporary work units; The material and technical conditions of the entity mentioned in Article 6 of the Patent Law refer to the capital, equipment, spare parts, raw materials or technical materials of the entity that are not disclosed to the public.
The new patent law is explained in more detail on page 30.