Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Patent Law.
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.
Article 9 Only one patent right can be granted for the same invention-creation. However, if the same applicant applies for a patent for utility model and a patent for invention at the same time on the same day, and the patent for utility model obtained earlier has not been terminated, and the applicant abandons the patent for utility model, the patent for invention may be granted. Where two or more applicants apply for a patent for the same invention-creation, the patent right shall be granted to the first applicant.
Article 10 The right to apply for a patent and the patent right may be transferred. Where a unit or individual in China transfers the right to apply for a patent or the patent right to a foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization, it shall go through the formalities in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations. Where the right to apply for a patent or the patent right is transferred, the parties concerned shall conclude a written contract and register it with the patent administration department of the State Council, which shall make an announcement. The transfer of the right to apply for a patent or the patent right shall take effect from the date of registration.