Patents Act 1977: Key legislation governing employee inventions (sections 39-43), establishing rights of employers and employees in relation to inventions, and provisions for compensation for certain inventions
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Fundamental legislation covering protection of intellectual property rights, moral rights, and the assignment of rights
Trade Secrets (Enforcement, etc.) Regulations 2018: Legislation implementing EU Trade Secrets Directive, governing protection of confidential information and trade secrets
Employment Rights Act 1996: Primary legislation governing employment relationships, including employee rights and protections relevant to invention assignments
Common Law Principles: Fundamental contract law principles, including consideration and reasonableness of terms, as established through case law
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR: Legislation governing personal data protection and processing, relevant when inventions involve personal data
Competition Act 1998: Legislation ensuring assignment terms don't breach competition law and maintain reasonable restrictions
Equality Act 2010: Legislation ensuring non-discrimination and equal treatment in contractual terms
Human Rights Act 1998: Legislation protecting fundamental rights including right to property and freedom of expression
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018: Legislation governing post-Brexit implications for IP rights and retained EU law affecting intellectual property
