Proprietor

The owner (or owners) of a granted patent. By default, the proprietor has the sole right to enforce the patent (by bringing infringement proceedings) as well as to licence or assign it. However, in some circumstances, other parties, such as exclusive licensees may also obtain rights under the patent. The proprietor is identified separately from the inventors in the patent register and in any publications of the patent. Initially, the proprietor will be the applicant to whom the patent application belonged when it was granted. However, this can subsequently be changed through assignment of the patent to a new entity.