Intellectual Property Act 2003 · As enacted · Part IV · Chapter
69. Inventions made by an employee or pursuant to a commission
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 right to a patent for an invention made in the performance of such contract of employment 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 invention acquires an economic value much greater than the parties could reasonably have foreseen at the time of entering the contract of employment or for the execution of work, as the case may be, the inventor shall be entitled to equitable remuneration which may be fixed by the Court an application made to it in that behalf, in the absence of an agreement between the parties.
Where an employee whose contract of employment does not require him to engage in any inventive activity, makes in the field of activities of his employer, an invention using data or means placed at his disposal by his employer, the right to the patent for such invention 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, taking into account his emoluments an application made to it in that behalf the economic value of the invention and any benefit derived from it by the employer.
The rights conferred on the inventor under subsections (1) and (2) shall not be restricted by contract.
Part V