What legal principle gives an employer rights to inventions made by employees during work?

The legal principle that grants an employer rights to inventions made by employees during work is known as "Shop Right." This principle allows employers to potentially claim ownership of inventions created by employees using the company's resources, time, or facilities. Essentially, if an employee develops an invention related to their work duties and exploits the company’s resources, the employer has a right to use that invention without necessarily paying the employee for the use of those ideas.

This principle is particularly important in environments where innovation occurs frequently and access to tools and information can significantly impact the development of new products. It encourages a balance between the ownership of an invention and the resources provided by the employer, ensuring that the intellectual contributions made within the course of employment are property of the company.

Conversely, while Intellectual Property Rights, Trade Secrets, and Copyright Law are important legal concepts in the realm of creativity and innovation, they do not specifically address the employer-employee relationship regarding inventions made during employment in the same way that Shop Right does.