The right to a patent shall belong to the inventor. Where 2 or more persons have jointly made an invention, the right to the patent shall belong to them jointly. Where and to the extent to which 2 or more persons have made the same invention independently of each other, the person whose application has the earliest filing date or, if priority is claimed, the earliest validly claimed priority date shall have the right to the patent, as long as the application is not withdrawn, abandoned or rejected.

The right to a patent may be assigned or may be transferred by succession. Where an invention is made in execution of an employment contract, the right to the patent shall belong, in the absence of contractual provisions to the contrary, to the employer. The inventor shall be named as such in the patent, unless in a special written declaration signed by him and addressed to the Registrar, he indicates that he wishes not to be named. Any promise or undertaking by the inventor made to any person to the effect that he will make such a declaration shall be without legal effect.