Work for Hire

One way I happen to know my father's date of hire at NELA Park is this contract, signed by him on December 1, 1952. Every scientist who worked for GE was expected to sign a similar agreement, the result of which is that everything they invented or developed at GE would be the intellectual property of GE, and GE would be entitled to any patents or other claims originating in it employees' "work for hire." It's an old legal principle, enshrined in Copyright law as well as patent matters -- but just to be on the safe side, this contact was presented to all new hires.