What best differentiates inventorship from ownership?

The distinction between inventorship and ownership is a key concept in patent law. Inventorship refers to the individuals who actually contribute to the conception of the invention, and their names must be listed on the patent application. This determination is based on the intellectual contribution made to the invention. Importantly, once inventorship is established, it does not change; if an inventor is named in the patent application, they remain an inventor unless there is a valid reason to remove or correct the naming.

On the other hand, ownership pertains to the rights to the patent and can change. Ownership can transfer through various means such as assignment, where an inventor sells or assigns their rights to another entity, or through inheritance. This flexibility in ownership contrasts with the stable nature of inventorship, which is fixed once determined based on the contributions made during the conception of the invention.

This understanding clarifies why one might choose the answer indicating that ownership can change while inventorship remains constant. The definition and mechanisms of both concepts are fundamental aspects of patent law that every individual dealing with patents should be aware of.