[MRM]

I've had questions like that come up from time to time. The issue is usually that the person doing the inventing had an employment agreement assigning the patent to the company, the inventor moves on after the invention is perfected but before the final paperwork is complete, and now the company is looking for a favor for the inventor to sign the last paperwork perfecting the patent - in the company's name.

In situations like that I usually have my person write a polite letter back to the company asking what is the basis for asking for the signature, and whether they should expect compensation. The company usually flips a little before finding the paperwork and showing that the patent legitimately belongs to the company, but not always. It's worth sending a polite letter of inquiry simply asking.