> EDIT: Wow. OK, I guess I'm the only one in the world who's ever seen that happen.
It happens regularly in larger companies. Most patents that I have also have others on them, because secondary people had to approve my applications. That's just how these things work. The only exceptions to this are those patent applications that I approved for others.
Remember, work on a patent may be more complex than the work on a corresponding invention. Also, the patent must be useful to the company in order for them to cover the bill. Taking a single employee's word for that is not enough.
The other people are on there because by law they have to be. Anyone involved in the invention in any way has to be on the patent or it can be found invalid.
It happens regularly in larger companies. Most patents that I have also have others on them, because secondary people had to approve my applications. That's just how these things work. The only exceptions to this are those patent applications that I approved for others.
Remember, work on a patent may be more complex than the work on a corresponding invention. Also, the patent must be useful to the company in order for them to cover the bill. Taking a single employee's word for that is not enough.