IBM's invention policy is: first patent: $1500 when it's filed, another $500 if the patent is awarded any patents after that: $750, +$500 if patent awarded. Ev

IBM's invention policy is: first patent: $1500 when it's filed, another $500 if the patent is awarded any patents after that: $750, +$500 if patent awarded. Every 4 patents you hit a "plateau" and get a bonus $1250 or so on top of everything else. - Random post in a thread where people apparently get $1 for developing patents for the company http://ask.slashdot.org/story/03/10/28/0055253/Employee-Patent-Compensations http://ask.slashdot.org/story/03/10/28/0055253/Employee-Pate... But I also saw that IBM even demands former employee's patents filed after employment: http://www.goodwinprocter.com/News/Press-Releases/2011/Court-Rules-IBM-Owns-Patents-Obtained-by-Former-Employee.aspx http://www.goodwinprocter.com/News/Press-Releases/2011/Court... Is the above good or bad for a company encouraging creativity? What's the right balance?