Numerous patentable technical inventions are made in the context of employment relationships. They are accordingly referred to as employee inventions. Due to the close connection to the employer’s company, the employer is entitled to claim the invention for itself. In contrast, the employee inventor has sole rights to a free invention.

The Employee Inventions Act (Arbeitnehmererfindungsgesetz, ArbnErfG) is intended to balance the interests of the employer and the employee when the latter has made an invention within the meaning of the Patent Act in the course of his or her work. The inventor is entitled to appropriate remuneration when the employer claims his or her employee invention. The amount of this remuneration claim is based on the remuneration guidelines for employee inventions.