Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 257

FORMERLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 306

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 8, TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES' RIGHTS TO CERTAIN INVENTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 8, Title 19 of the Delaware Code by adding the following section: "§805. EmploYee's right to certain inventions

Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that the employee shall assign or offer to assign any of his rights In an invention to his employer shall not apply to an invention that the employee developed entirely on his own time without using the employer's equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret Information except for those inventions that (I) relate to the employer's business or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (U) result from any work performed by the employee for the employer. To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to apply to the type of invention described, it is against the public policy of this State and Is unenforceable. An employer may not require a provision of an employment agreement made unenforceable under this section as a condition of employment or continued employment."

Approved May 22, 1984.