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Pre-Disclosure
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP SERVICES OFFICE (IPSO)?
IPSO’s main role is to facilitate commercialization of research results and the University’s innovative technologies for the public good and to maximize income to the school and faculty through licensing and other commercial agreements. Our main functions are consulting on intellectual property and technology transfer, receiving and reviewing all invention disclosures, determining patentability and assessing commercial potential of the disclosed inventions, administrating the patent process, negotiating deals through confidential disclosures and licensing agreements, and supporting UNCG inventors in establishing start-up companies to commercialize their inventions.
WHAT IS AN INVENTION?
An invention is a novel and useful idea resulting from study and experiment and may relate to a process, machine, article of manufacture, composition of matter, or any improvement thereof.
WHO OWNS THE INVENTION?
Intellectual properties developed by university faculty and within the scope of their employment or through the use of their time, facilities, equipment or materials owned or paid for by the university are considered by Federal patent and copyright law to be the property of the university.
Inventions or technology developments made by a student who is supported by the university (i.e., by a fellowship) or employed by the university or is working voluntarily on a faculty member’s research and makes substantial use of university resources, are considered by Federal patent and copyright law to be the property of the university.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF DISCLOSING AN INVENTION TO ISPO?
Disclosing your invention to IPSO is an important part of protecting the rights to your discovery. One of the most important benefits may be the commercialization of your technology through IPSO’s efforts in patent and licensing of the discovery.
DOES PUBLIC DISCLOSURE INTERFERE WITH PATENTING?
To protect the patentability rights to your invention, it is important that you contact IPSO as early as possible prior to public disclosure. Public disclosure includes journal articles, publication on the Web, conference abstracts, and oral presentations or poster presentations. Foreign patent rights are lost immediately upon public disclosure. In the U.S., you have one year from the date of the public disclosure to file a patent application.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF DISCLOSING AN INVENTION TO IPSO?
Disclosing your invention to IPSO is an important part of protecting the rights to your discovery. One of the most important benefits may be the commercialization of your technology through IPSO’s efforts in patent and licensing of the discovery. Other benefits through IPSO’s marketing efforts include
