What does patent transfer mean?

Patent transfer means that the patentee transfers his patent to the assignee for compensation through market transactions. After the transfer of the patent right takes effect, the transferor no longer enjoys the patent right, and the transferee becomes the new patentee, enjoying all the property rights of the patent right enjoyed by the original patentee. The personal right of the patent right cannot be transferred. The patentee's assignment of the patent right is different from licensing others to exploit its patent. The transfer of patent right means that the ownership or holding right of the patent has been transferred, and the assignee of the patent right becomes the patentee and enjoys the ownership or holding right of the patent, while the transferor, the original patentee, no longer enjoys the ownership or holding right of the patent. Licensed use of a patent means that the ownership or holding right of the patent has not been transferred, the patent right is still reserved by the patentee, and the licensee has only obtained the right to exploit the patent. The transfer of patent rights is free in principle, but the transfer of all patent rights of units owned by the whole people, especially to foreigners, must be approved by the relevant authorities in the State Council.