Quick Reference of the Common Types of Intellectual Property Rights

“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 …

What do Those Extra Letters Mean? Professional Designations in Technology Transfer

Many members of our team carry additional letters behind their names that you’ve probably seen, like PhD, JD, or MBA. But what do the others, like CLP and RTTP, mean? These are certifications and designations attained by those in the technology transfer and licensing fields. They are administered and distributed by the professional societies our team members participate in, such as the Licensing Executive Society and the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals. These designations represent a certain level of proficiency and experience in our field. They also add an additional layer of credibility for our academic and industry partners. Here Read More …

Inventorship: Who is an Inventor?

Inventorship could be the million-dollar question. In a university setting where collaboration is commonplace – who qualifies as an inventor? Most scholars understand “authorship,” but this concept shouldn’t be confused with “inventorship.” Being listed as an author on a journal article discussing the invention does not automatically make one an inventor on the patent itself. As a rule, an inventor is one who has contributed to the “conception” of an invention. Whereas someone working at the direction of another, using routine skill without making a conceptual contribution, is not an inventor under U. S. patent law. Credentials, such as degrees Read More …