Inventions
Inventions may be processes, guidelines, methods, machines, articles of manufacture, devices, software, chemicals and compositions of matter. It is important to begin the process to protect the invention before any public disclosure - including publishing, presenting or even posting about it.
A public disclosure is any non-confidential oral or written communication to people outside the university that provides enough information to reveal the existence of the invention and enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to reproduce the invention (e.g., journal article; conference proceedings or abstracts; thesis publication or defense; federally-funded grant applications upon notice of award; publicly distributed meeting notes; or discussions with third parties).
Sharing Research
Before sending materials or data to external collaborators, submit an agreement request to the Innovation and Commercialization Contracts Team through Cayuse Inventions. The team will help put in place a Material Transfer Agreement, Data Use Agreement, or Confidential Disclosure Agreement to help protect the work and ensure its proper use.
Industry Sponsored Research
Industry-sponsored research agreements often include terms for how resulting IP is handled. Clearly define the scope of work in any industry sponsored research agreement. Sponsored Programs will manage the agreement and coordinate with the Innovation and Commercialization Team to address IP terms.
At Ohio State, under some circumstances, companies can choose from three IP options:
- the traditional option to negotiate a license to project IP on commercially reasonable terms;
- Non-exclusive, royalty-free license with an upfront technology access fee (TAF); or
- Full assignment of rights in exchange for a TAF.
A TAF gives companies predictable access to IP while streamlining collaboration. Ohio State distributes a generous portion of the TAF directly to the PI and project team supporting the research partnership.