Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/116727
Intellectual Property Section 1 And in a little more detail... Patents Patents are, potentially, the most valuable type of IP. Patents protect inventions which relate to a product and/or a process to make a product. They arise particularly from research & development in the medical, science, technology and engineering fields. Once a patent has been granted, it offers the owner a 'monopoly' right. This means that only the owner, or someone else with the owner's consent, can use the invention for commercial purposes. Say you have thought of an invention for a new type of tea bag which can be used 50 times without losing any flavour! Useful. This invention will be patentable if: (1) it has not been disclosed publicly anywhere in the world prior to filing the patent application; (2) it is inventive; and (3) it is capable of industrial application, (essentially any commercial, medical or other practical use). If you think your invention is potentially patentable it is essential that the details of the invention are kept secret until the application for the patent is made. Disclosure of the key features of the invention before that will make your patent application invalid and so may be refused or be open to challenge in the future if granted. Methods of disclosure may include publishing details of the invention: n in a journal, book, poster or other publication n via a website other electronic means n in an oral presentation n to someone who is not an employee of your organisation, such as a student, or is not bound by confidentiality to keep such information secret. Demonstration/promotion of the invention in a public place is also publication. Confidentiality is considered in greater detail in Section 4 – Confidentiality. 5