Disclose an invention.
A disclosure is confidential and is not a patent application. It is how the TTO starts working for you.
Protect first, then publish.
In most countries, a public description of an invention before a patent application makes it unpatentable. A conference abstract, a poster, a thesis in the library, a LinkedIn post: all count. Tell the TTO before any of them, and protection can be filed in time for your deadline. You keep publishing.
Software, datasets and know-how are not lost by publishing, but disclose them too: they can be licensed and the licence revenue is shared with you.
Seven questions before you start
- Have I described what it does and what problem it solves, in plain words?
- Who contributed, and roughly how much?
- Have I published, presented or posted about it? When?
- When is my next talk, paper or thesis defence?
- Who funded the work, and are there sponsor terms?
- Did I use anyone else's materials, code or data?
- Who would want this, and what would they pay for?
What happens next.
Three steps between a disclosure and a decision.
Acknowledged
You get a confirmation, a reference number and the name of your TTO contact.
Discussed
You meet the TTO Officer to talk through the invention, your timeline and what evidence exists.
Decided
The IP Committee decides on protection, and you hear the decision and the reasons in writing.