Issue:
An individual worked for a private for profit corporation for 25 years and conducted research on wild and captive animals. He used the data to publish material and kept all the original data and the animal files. The corporation is out of business and the animals that the data was kept on have long been released, sold, or died. The scientist claims that the research data and files are his intellectual property while the defunct company is claiming it is theirs due the fact that the scientist was employed by them and the companies paid for to conduct some the research. During his 25 year tenure, there were no written agreements between the scientist and the corporations on the ownership of these records or dealt with intellectual property rights.
Question:
Who owns the data and research files, and are the materials the intellectual property of the scientist.
An individual worked for a private for profit corporation for 25 years and conducted research on wild and captive animals. He used the data to publish material and kept all the original data and the animal files. The corporation is out of business and the animals that the data was kept on have long been released, sold, or died. The scientist claims that the research data and files are his intellectual property while the defunct company is claiming it is theirs due the fact that the scientist was employed by them and the companies paid for to conduct some the research. During his 25 year tenure, there were no written agreements between the scientist and the corporations on the ownership of these records or dealt with intellectual property rights.
Question:
Who owns the data and research files, and are the materials the intellectual property of the scientist.