You've just come up with a new idea that could change the world, and naturally, you want to tell everyone you know.
But is that wise?
Actually, no, according to the Tech Transfer team at the University of Cincinnati.
"It's important that inventors take steps to safeguard their ideas before sharing them," said Geoffrey Pinski, UC assistant vice president for technology transfer. "Otherwise, they are at risk of their discovery being passed off and reproduced by someone else."
- Innovation fuels advancements in technology, the arts, medicine and society worldwide, often outside of a corporate research and development laboratories. The resulting ideas are considered intellectual property (IP) and must be protected.
- Disclosure is a critical early first step. If you're a faculty or staff member at UC, you should complete the university's disclosure form outlining the name(s) of the inventors, the action steps applied and any external funding used in the development. Submitting this form early on is essential, as failure to initiate the tech transfer process could leave you open to infringement.
1. Failure to perform due diligence
Due diligence helps ensure the idea you're seeking to protect is not already held by someone else. It also helps you assess the market value of your invention.
2. Failure to file for patent protection
Patents safeguard your invention, giving you - or the company that licenses your IP - the exclusive right to market your idea.
3. Failure to establish clear licensing agreements
As an inventor, you likely will need to partner with investors or large companies that can financially develop and bring your discovery to the public. Legal documents help ensure a third party does not use your IP without authorization or payment.
4. Failure to connect with licensing experts
"We advise inventors to seek out someone widely experienced in transferring technologies across a broad array of fields, including the physical sciences, life sciences and information technology," Pinski said. UC's Technology Transfer team serves as a one-stop shop for faculty and staff, protecting them against infringers by guiding them through each step of the tech transfer process.
