Intellectual Property Act 2003 · As enacted · Part III
34. Industrial design created by the employee to accrue to employer
Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.
Official translationFrom Department of Government Printing, unchanged
In the absence of any provision to the contrary in any contract of employment or for the execution of work, the ownership of an industrial design created in the performance of such contract or in the execution of such work shall be deemed to accrue to the employer, or the person who commissioned the work, as the case may be :
Provided that where the industrial design acquires an economic value much greater than the parties could reasonably have foreseen at the time of concluding the contract of employment or for the execution of work, as the case may be, the creator shall be entitled to equitable remuneration which may be fixed by the Court on an application made by the creator to Court in the absence of an agreement between the parties.
Where an employee whose contract of employment does not require him to engage in any creative activity creates, in the field of activities of his employer, an industrial design using data or means placed at his disposal by his employer, the ownership of such industrial design shall be deemed to accrue to the employer in the absence of any provision to the contrary in the contract of employment :
Provided that the employee shall be entitled to equitable remuneration, which in the absence of agreement between the parties, may be fixed by the Court on an application made by the employee, taking into account his emoluments, the economic value of the industrial design and any benefit derived from it by the employer.
The rights conferred on the creator of an industrial design by subsections (1) and (2) shall not be restricted by contract.
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