The article explores the intersection of employment law and intellectual property law, focusing on how these two areas interact in both public and private sector employment. It looks at historical perspectives on ownership of employee inventions and examines the balance of rights between employers and employees in creating incentives for knowledge production. The research highlights the different perspectives of intellectual property scholars and employment law scholars, with a focus on safeguarding employees' skills and knowledge after leaving a job. The study reveals the complexities of contractual restraints on departing employees and how they can impact the balance between monopolised information and the public domain.