Under what condition can you inspect an application where former coworkers are listed as inventors?

The ability to inspect a patent application that lists former coworkers as inventors primarily hinges on ownership rights and assignments. When an invention is made during employment, the employer often holds rights to the invention unless otherwise agreed. An assignment filed with the application reflects that the rights to the application have been properly transferred to the company or organization where the inventors were employed.

Inspecting the application is typically restricted to ensure that proprietary information is not disclosed to unauthorized parties. In this context, having an assignment filed means that the entity or individual seeking access has been granted permission through legal transfer of rights, which allows for a legitimate inspection of the application.

In contrast, just being an inventor does not guarantee access to inspect without permission, nor does company permission alone suffice if the ownership rights aren’t clear through an assignment. Additionally, payment of a fee for inspection may not actually confer the right to view the application without the correct ownership documentation in place. This makes having an assignment filed the key determinant for access.