Search Results for: intellectual property

Breaking Down Intellectual Property in Pop Culture

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Intellectual property, or IP, is an ancient idea that dictates how we consume today’s pop culture. Without IP, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our favorite shows from the comfort of our couch, quote iconic movie lines, or even immerse ourselves in the latest bestselling novel. IP is crucial to pop culture, but what is it, exactly? Intellectual property is “a work or investigation that is the result of creativity to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.” Sound vague? It’s supposed to. Part of the reason is because of IP’s Read More …

Be Ware of Preprints: Protect Your Intellectual Property First

Posted onAuthorLinda Kesselring

Who owns the rights to a new innovation described in a research paper? If a patent is in place, the answer is simple: the owner. Generally, the lengthy, and confidential, peer-review process means that authors of unpublished work have ample time to submit an invention disclosure and to have their technology transfer office review and if necessary, file a patent, ensuring that any new invention is protected prior to any public disclosure. However, the rise of “preprint” services, which allow authors to publish preliminary findings ahead of peer-review, has complicated this process. Preprints can severely hamper the ability of authors Read More …

Quick Reference of the Common Types of Intellectual Property Rights

Posted onAuthorLinda Kesselring

“Intellectual property” or “IP” generally refers to exclusive rights granted to owners under U.S. intellectual property laws to a variety of intangible assets covering creations of the human mind. Common types of IP rights include copyrights, trademarks, patents (utility, plant, and design patents) and trade secrets. Type of Right What it Protects How to Obtain Copyright Original works of authorship, including writings (including computer software) music (including any accompany words and/or music), and works of art (e.g., pictorial, graphic, and/or sculptural works) that have been tangibly expressed Copyright exists immediately and automatically when the work is created, that is, when Read More …

How To: Build an Effective Start-Up Pitch Deck

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

A strong pitch deck is a must for any academic entrepreneur aiming to take their research to the next step and launch a start-up. Decks are the foundation of how ideas are communicated in business but translating years of rigorous research and ambitious plans into a concise and digestible presentation requires strategy, clarity, and a deep understanding of your audience in the market. So, how can you create a pitch deck that captures attention and inspires confidence in your start-up? 1. Start with your Elevator Pitch The opening slide of your deck sets the tone for the rest of your Read More …

I’ve Submitted my Invention … Now What?: Or, The First Steps with Emory OTT!

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

  A faculty member has a great invention. They submit an invention disclosure. What happens next? Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) is an Emory researcher’s first stop on the road to commercialization. From the moment a disclosure is submitted, our staff works to ensure a smooth and efficient process for all parties involved. Each invention disclosure is assigned a tech ID number and OTT licensing associate. The licensing associate will then have some initial conversations with the faculty member about their goals for the product or project and the type of funding surrounding their research. From this point on, Read More …

Have Patience with Patents: A Guide to Utility, Design, and Plant Patents

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

If a prospective patent enthusiast Googles “patents explained,” they can find maybe two websites in the top results that aren’t riddled with complicated definitions and explanations. However, patents are a subject that anyone can find fascinating as long as they receive the information in an interesting and relatable way. Without further delay, let’s get into it! Let’s start with the definition: Patents are “the granting of a property right by a sovereign authority to an inventor,” according to Investopedia. This simply means that a patent is a government’s way of promising that if an inventor discloses information about their invention, Read More …

Tackling the Terms of Technology Transfer

Posted onAuthorLinda Kesselring

As with any field, technology transfer comes with its own special language. But there is no need to worry when you face an article filled with confusing acronyms. Keep this glossary handy for when you need to break down the different types of agreements used throughout the technology transfer process. MTA & DUA MTA stands for Material Transfer Agreement and DUA stands for Data Use Agreement. Collaboration is critical to research and technology development. So, colleagues may want to protect the research tools that they share with each other. MTAs and DUAs are formal contracts that define the proper use Read More …

Remaining in research, outside the lab: OTT intern reflects on her journey into tech transfer

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

When I began my PhD in Biomedical Science, I always envisioned myself making new discoveries and making the world a better place. I committed myself to research and I wanted to be a leader in the field.  My doctoral research enhanced my interest in molecular pathways and how deviations in these pathways can lead to various diseases. However, after completing my PhD, I decided to move away from research for a while and transition into academia. Working as an Associate Physiology Professor, I have educated students with various educational backgrounds and helped to enhance their critical thinking skills. While teaching Read More …

New Perspectives: My “invigorating” experience as an OTT intern

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Upon embarking in my graduate studies, I was struck by the vast amount of amazing research that happens on a daily basis. On the other hand, I felt disheartened by the substantial amount of research that failed to make a tangible impact in the “real world.” This realization highlighted the critical importance of effectively commercializing discoveries and optimizing technologies for their practical application. I aspired to pursue a career with a direct, translational impact. To gain a more comprehensive perspective, I joined Emory’s Biotech Consulting Club. Through this club, I discovered its intimate collaboration with Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer Read More …

How to strengthen your patent

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Why do we care about patents? If you create something – whether it’s a medical device, a new type of shoelace, or a better method of washing clothes – you have the chance to protect your idea and earn money off it. A patent is a publicly available, government-issued document that gives certain rights to an invention, such as preventing others from making, using, or selling your invention. Patents provide crucial protection to intellectual property, the intangible creations of the human intellect. When you apply for a patent, it’s processed within the administrative and legal framework of the patent office. Read More …

Six Things to Know about Trade Secrets

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Trade secrets are a way to protect confidential information without a legal fee. Any piece of knowledge that gives a business or corporation a competitive advantage can be a trade secret. Do you have rights to a trade secret? Read on. 1. Trade secrets can include technical and commercial information. According to the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA), a trade secret can be any “formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process” that has commercial value based upon keeping it a secret. This can be technical information (ex. manufacturing processes and computer program designs) or commercial information (ex. client Read More …

Emory’s Female Founders Forum promotes underrepresented innovators

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

This is the first installment of a series featuring the Female Founders Forum at Emory (F3@E). This year’s cohort members include Drs. Rasheeta Chandler, Elaine Fisher, Louise Hecker, Rebecca Levit, Cassandra Quave, Sarwish Rafiq, and Chunhui Xu. Out of the estimated $283.3 billion venture capital (VC) allocated in 2022, start-ups with all-women teams received just $4.5 billion – less than 2% of the total funding. F3@E is one step that Emory University is taking in response to this disparity. An initiative created by Deborah W. Bruner, Senior Vice President for Research, in partnership with Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), Read More …

From the Lab to the Law: My journey to IP, from an OTT intern

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

My life journey to this point has been anything but traditional. While some might call my path “circuitous,” I would argue my experiences helped me develop a multitude of transferable skills. I decided in my last two years of my undergraduate education at Georgia State University (Go Panthers!) to pursue becoming a medical doctor. During this time, I was also interested in applying for “Teach for America” as I had a passion to be a part of educational equity in our society. I was accepted as a corps member and taught eighth grade science for four years – a  whole Read More …

Six Things to Know about Design Patents

Posted onAuthorLinda Kesselring

Patents give inventors intellectual property rights by excluding other people from creating, using, or selling an invention for a set period of time. In return, inventors publish an enabling disclosure for the invention, which provides basic technical information about the invention to the public. There are actually several types of patents including plant patents, design patents, and utility patents. Most people think of utility patents when they think of the types of intellectual property that is protected with a patent. For example, machines, software, or manufactured items. However, design patents also play an important role in protecting the inventor’s right Read More …

Six Things to Know About Trademarks

Posted onAuthorJessica Beach

Understanding trademarks and the rights they afford you, as well as understanding how to avoid trademark disputes, are essential to your success and the success of any of your brands or companies. This blog will give a brief overview of 6 essential things to know about trademarks and trademark laws to help aid your understanding of this subject. Trademarks are different from patents and copyrights: Trademarks, copyrights, and patents all protect intellectual property, but they all protect different types of intellectual property. A patent protects functional inventions, copyright protects original artistic or literary work, and trademarks are reserved for brand Read More …

OTT Presents: The 2022 Annual Celebration Awardees

Posted onAuthorJessica Beach

Each spring, Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer hosts an Annual Celebration of Technology and Innovation. We are excited to announce the 2022 awardees! We took time to interview several of this year’s awardees to learn more about their technologies and their reaction to winning an award. Innovation of the Year – KeyStrike: Securing Communications from an Untrusted Computer; Ymir Vigfusson, PhD Can you introduce yourself? “I’m an Associate Professor in Computer Science at Emory University and a co-director of the Emory SimBioSys lab, where I work on large-scale networked systems, computational epidemiology, and information security. Alongside academia, I’ve co-founded multiple Read More …

15 Good Minutes: Eric Wagner

Posted onAuthorLinda Kesselring

For Emory Orthopedic Surgeon Eric Wagner, MD, research isn’t just a side pursuit. Despite maintaining a busy clinical practice, Wagner has managed to make research into what he calls a “second career.” Wagner and his partner, Michael Gottschalk, MD, currently have over 45 ongoing projects, with topics running the gambit from managing opioid addiction to helping tendons heal. Wagner has published over 185 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and his work has had a substantial impact in improving patient outcomes from orthopedic procedures. “We take some complex surgeries where patients don’t traditionally do as well and try to make them better Read More …

From the Director: COVID-19’s Impact on Technology Transfer

Posted onAuthorJessica Beach

Todd Sherer, PhD is the Associate VP for Research and Executive Director of the Emory Office of Technology Transfer. In this article, Todd Sherer discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the technology transfer industry and on the Emory Office of Technology Transfer specifically. Humankind has longed for better ways of doing things for centuries.  More recently, this phenomenon to make products that solve problems, as well as to create jobs and wealth, has been termed the “innovation economy”.  The demand for technology innovation is global, and there is always the desire to make people healthier and happier. However, Read More …

Meet the 2021 Annual Celebration Awardees

Posted onAuthorJessica Beach

Each Spring, Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer hosts an Annual Celebration of Technology and Innovation. Though we weren’t able to gather in person to celebrate this year, we are extremely proud of the 2021 awardees. We took time to interview several of this year’s awardees to learn more about their technologies and their reaction to winning an award! 2021 Innovation of the Year – Serological Test for SARS-CoV-2; John Roback, MD, Ph.D. Can you introduce yourself? “John D. Roback, MD PhD.  I am a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Director of Emory Medical Laboratories, and Executive Vice-Chair for Read More …

15 Good Minutes: Hari Trivedi

Posted onAuthorLinda Kesselring

After completing an undergraduate degree in engineering at Georgia Tech, Emory Assistant-Professor Dr. Hari Trivedi began medical school with an open mind about what field to specialize in. While exploring different fields, Trivedi began to grow interested in the intersection of medicine and technology. He eventually settled on his chosen field, radiology, after witnessing how it combined his interests in both medicine and engineering. “During radiology rotations, I thought radiology was just so cool because radiologists get all the newest toys,” Trivedi said. “I remember seeing my first 3D reconstruction of a CT scan, and that’s when I was like, Read More …