In the absence of terms in an employment agreement to the contrary, use of an employer's resources to "make" an invention typically bestows on the employer at least a "shop right" in the invention. Often, use of an employer's resources is a factor in establishing ownership of an invention. For this reason, documentation of resources (people, equipment, laboratory space, etcetera) used to make an invention is important. In some organizations, income from inventions is shared by the departments or business units that employ or otherwise provide resources to the inventor(s).
Why - Resources Used