Anyone who invents (either alone or with others) a patentable technology is, by default, entitled to the rights in any ensuing patent. So, when filing a patent application, it is important to know who made an inventive contribution to it.

It should also be stressed that everybody who has devised any invention covered by a patent application must be named as an inventor; in some countries (e.g. the USA) the inventorship issue is so important that falsifying it in a patent application can invalidate any resulting patent.

The creators of artistic works and new designs or trademarks may similarly be granted rights to help them protect their IP from unauthorised use.