PATENTS

A patentable invention must be new, inventive, capable of industrial application and must not fall into an excluded category (e.g. artistic creations, mathematical methods, some computer programs, and business schemes). PAPPAS IP and its patent attorneys will help with determining the question of patentability. Establishing whether an invention meets these criteria is a complicated, time consuming and expensive process. Although patenting is expensive (e.g. $ 100,000 over five years), the rewards may be significant. If inventions are not properly protected, rights may be lost irretrievably.

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?

MARKETING, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY

When potentially valuable technology has been identified and protected, PAPPAS IP works closely with the inventors to commercialise the technology. This involves identifying the right partner for the commercial development and exploitation of the technology in the marketplace. It is easy to choose the wrong partner and a number of considerations should be addressed when choosing partner(s). Examples are: sufficient resources to take the technology to market; real intent to develop the technology as it may compete with in-house programmes; and awareness of access of the final products, where applicable, to developing countries. This last point, involving partly ethical concerns, is of particular relevance to human healthcare technologies and researchers should discuss with PAPPAS IP appropriate measures which can be taken.

LICENSING

Pappas IP will assist in structuring the appropriate licensing agreement per case. A licence is an agreement involving the transfer of rights from one party ("the licensor") to the other ("the licensee"). These rights commonly control the use (for copying, manufacture, sale etc.) of an IPR (a patent, copyright material, confidential knowhow etc.).

WHERE DO I START?
Or What does a patent attorney need from you?

INVENTION RECORD Project number: (for PAPPAS IP use)

The invention record is a written description of your invention. It fulfils several important purposes:

• It helps PAPPAS IP to assess whether the work is patentable;

• It helps the patent attorney to prepare the draft patent, if PAPPAS IP decides to proceed with patenting;

• It helps give PAPPAS IP and the University's Intellectual Property Due Diligence team an early indication as to the University's ownership of your invention, and identify issues which will need to be addressed downstream;

• It provides an important record of the date of invention, which can become important in future patent process.