Can a contract remain in effect after it is terminated?
<p>Take the following clause from an employment contract:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If and whenever required to do so (whether during or after the
  termination of this Contract), you shall at the expense of the Company
  (or the Company’s nominee) apply for or join in applying for letters
  patent or other equivalent protection in England and/or any other part
  of the world for any such discovery, invention, idea, process or
  improvement referred to above, you shall execute all instruments
  necessary for vesting the said letters patent or other equivalent
  protection when obtained and all right, title and interest to and in
  the same in the Company (or the Company’s nominee) absolutely and as
  sole beneficial owner or in such other person as may be required. You
  hereby irrevocably appoint the Company to be your attorney in your
  name and on your behalf to execute any such instruments and generally
  to use your name for the purpose of giving to the Company or its
  nominee the full benefit of the provisions of this clause.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Unless I've misread, one implication is: </p>

<p><em>Even after this contract doesn't exist any more (i.e. you stopped working for us), it still compels you to participate until the day you die in any patent application processes anywhere in the world that the company wants you to be a part of.</em></p>

<p>Have I misread? If not, and the ethics of this aside, is this even possible? Can a contract act on someone after it is terminated?</p>

<p>Yes, clauses of contracts survive termination when they say they do or if injustice would arise if they didn’t.</p>

contract-law