Tech Transfer and Intellectual Property

Gaylene Anderson gave a guest lecture, from the lecture I gained some useful knowledge in the invention and patent field. I learned the importance of confidentiality, the benefits of licenses, and about the services offered by University of Idaho Office of Technology Transfer.

Public disclosure/Confidentiality: Public disclosure, making information available to the public, is something that must be used carefully. When a patent is made, the information about the patent is fully public, however, if the idea is publicly disclosed, which includes simply telling someone about the idea without a confidentiality contract, the idea is void for a patent in the entire world except the United States. The United States will accept the patent within 12 months of public disclosure. So, if I have an idea that I believe is actually marketable, I should not display the whole idea if any part of the idea in any class i.e. ME 223, or I should go in for patent very quickly after words. This information if very beneficial in protecting ideas since any public disclosure before patented destroys protection.

Tech Transfer on Campus: The University of Idaho Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) is part of the university research office and is responsible for managing intellectual property.  OTT will pay for the patent and help sell or license an invention or idea if they believe it is marketable. The university would take part of the profits made from the idea or invention to fuel more patents and improve research on campus. However, if the idea is considered unmarketable by OTT, it is kept confidential so the inventor may attempt patent on their own accord. Applied personally, if I have any idea I can try to get a patent or simply visit to get an opinion on the idea to know if it’s worth further pursuit. To patent something for myself I must show that it is independent from the university, same as the work place setting. The university however, must give a profit “cut” to the inventor, but companies do not. A company may give a promotion or bonus to reward an innovative design.

License: Once a patent is established revenue can be made from the idea via marketing the invention by oneself, selling the idea, or licensing the rights to the idea to a company or companies. Selling the idea gives the inventor an instant gain whereas marketing the idea via licensing or by oneself is more long term. Licensing allows the inventor to receive part of the profits from the execution of the idea without having to go through the process, cost, or risk of the execution/manufacturing process. Personally using licensing rather than selling the idea or marketing it on my own allows me to focus on other avenues without further dedication to that one thing while still benefiting from it, at cost of a larger potential gain possible if I handled the idea/invention myself.