Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Patent Law.
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 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.
Article 7 No unit or individual may suppress an inventor or designer's application for a patent for non-service invention-creation.
Article 8. Unless otherwise agreed, the right to apply for a patent belongs to an invention-creation completed in cooperation with two or more units or individuals, or an invention-creation entrusted by other units or individuals. After the application is approved, the applicant unit or individual shall be the patentee.