Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/116750
Alternative Therapy SOLUTIONS Alternative Therapy What, if anything, has Emily done wrongly in terms of protecting her treatment method so far? n The first thing that Emily did was speak to her father about the research that she has been carrying out. It might sound ridiculous, but you should make sure that relatives understand the importance of confidentiality. If they reveal any information about work that you are carrying out, that information is in the public domain and this could, for example, prevent you from obtaining a patent for your invention. n Emily then met with Larry Faldo over dinner and discussed her work with him. Larry is the MD of NWP, a commercial organisation clearly interested in Emily's work. Again, Emily should have ensured that confidentiality provisions were in place before she had this conversation with Larry. If that was not possible, she needed to make sure she did not disclose her invention and only spoke in general terms. Does Emily own all the rights in her alternative therapy method? If not, what issues might arise? n You may remember that Emily attended a conference in Denver and was inspired by a paper delivered by an academic from The Institute of Stunford. As the information contained in the paper came into the public domain when it was presented at the conference, Emily may be able to use it. However, if, for example, the paper contained details of The Institute of Stunford's registered IP, say, a patent, then Emily would not be able to use the patented information without the permission of Stunford. Stunford could sue for patent infringement otherwise. 47