ownership of intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, and trademarks, may be assigned, but special conditions attach to the assignment of patents and trademarks. in the united states, assignment of a patent is governed by statute, . patent rights are assignable by an "instrument in writing." title in a patent can also be transferred as a result of other financial transactions, such as a merger or a takeover, or as a result of operation of law, such as in an inheritance process, or in a bankruptcy. an assignment of a patent can be recorded with the united states patent and trademark office. although such recording is not required, if an assignment is not recorded at the uspto within three (3) months or prior to a subsequent assignment, the assignment will be void against a subsequent assignee without notice of the earlier, unrecorded assignment.