1 Intellectual Property Basics Peggy Wade, Ph.D. Director, Division of Engineering Research, College of Engineering Michigan State University

2 Introduction What is intellectual property? Why do we want to protect it? How do we protect it? How do we transfer the technology to the public?

3 What is intellectual property? Intellectual properties are intangible products of the mind. These include: inventions (devices, compositions, plants, designs) publications videotapes computer programs works of art. They must be reduced to a tangible form in order to be protected.

4 Why do we want to protect and license IP? It is very difficult to license technology that is not protected. Makes the technology available to the public and provides opportunities for graduates and recognition to faculty. IP is a marketable commodity that can be used to leverage additional research dollars and income to support the inventors and the university, and help in the formation of new companies and jobs. Since 1998, over 1500 new products have been introduced in the market place. In 2001in the U.S. and Canada (AUTM Survey Data): Over 13,500 Invention Disclosures, Over 6800 patent applications were filed Nearly 500 new companies formed. License revenue was over $1,000,000,000

5 How do we protect intellectual property? Copyrights Trademark Trade Secret Plant Variety Certification Patents

6 Office of Intellectual Property Handles all patents and trademarks for the MSU. Engineering rep - Brad Shaw Brochures noting MSU policies andforms.html andforms.html

7 Office of the Assoc. Vice Pres. for Research and Graduate Studies Handles all copyrights for the university. Lori Hudson : Hand/develpinstruct.html

8 Copyrights Documents, art, music, motion pictures, software, etc. are automatically copyrighted when the document is created. Can register the copyright with the government for $ Must be registered before filing any infringement lawsuits.® Lasts the life of the author plus 70 years Or lasts 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, if it was a work for hire MSU Policy and FAQ US Copyright Website

9 Trademarks Used to protect a symbol or phrase that’s identified with a product (e.g. Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Xerox). ™ Registration costs $325 but is not required except for federal court proceedings and for foreign protection; last for 10 years and is renewable indefinitely®. Becomes effective when begin selling commercially.

10 Trade Secrets Specialized knowledge that can include data, formulas, compilations, programs, etc. which are maintained as a secret Can be used where patents may not have a long enough term or be possible. Trade secrets are kept under lock and key, with restricted access and publications. Example - Coca-cola formula

11 Plant Variety Certification Used for plants that reproduce sexually making it illegal to sell and propagate them commercially. Certification protection is for 5 years and costs ~$2500.

12 Patents Used for inventions, processes, machines, improvements, and composition of matter. Not possible to patent scientific principles, methods of doing business or most naturally occurring articles. Software algorithms can often be patented, but typically software is protected under copyright.

13 Three Patent Requirements Novel - new to the patent literature, not published or described in an enabling manner. Time limit of one year from public disclosure to file a U.S. patent. Foreign patents must be filed BEFORE any public disclosure. Utility - must be useful Non-obvious to one skilled in the art.

14 Types of Patents Utility – how something works or is used; multiple claims Design – how something looks; only one claim Provisional – establishes a filing date and provide 1 year to file a full patent application with claims Plant – for asexually reproducing a new plant; one claim

15 Differences between International & US Patents US – First to Invent Most International – First to File Very important to file protection before publicly disclosing to preserve foreign patent rights Foreign protection very important to most companies Provisional Patents have great use here

16 What does Patent Protection Provide? The right to EXCLUDE others from making, using, selling of offering to sell the claimed invention during the patent term. Must be marked as ‘patented’, or can’t recover from anyone who infringes on it. Patent term typically = 20 years from date of filing Design patent = 14 years

17 MSU Policy MSU owns all intellectual property created by its employees using university equipment and supplies. Students (unpaid) own their intellectual property. Patents, copyrights, and trademarks are handled by Office of Intellectual Property and Assoc. VP for Research and Grad. Studies.

18 If you invent while at MSU… U.S. patent costs ~$10-15K over~ 2yrs

19 Bayh-Dole Act (1980) The Bayh-Dole Act was intended to promote investment by the private sector in the commercialization of discoveries made using research funds provided by the federal government. Prior to the Act, the government retained title to these inventions, and because it was cumbersome to get a license, few technologies were licensed and commercialized.

20 MSU Royalty Policy First $5000 goes to the inventor(s). Patent expenses are then recovered. Net RoyaltyInventor(s)Academic University Next $100, %33.3%33.3% Next $400,000 30%30%40% Next $500,00020%20%60% Excess >$1M15%15%70%

21 Procedure for inventions at MSU Inventors submit an invention disclosure form describing the invention, whether the research was supported by government or industry, publication details. OIP assesses invention, assigns a case number. Patent search initiated by attorney if invention is complete enough [D-I-Y at If patentable, decision made by committee on whether to file a patent based on financial and other basis.

22 Procedure for inventions at MSU (con’t) If a patent application is filed, it will be reviewed by the Patent Office approximately months later. Patents will be published by the USPTO after 18 months. If a patent issues, it is usually about 2 years after the initial filing. Patent is valid for 20 years from the filing date.

23 Industry Patent Policies Who owns IP – inventors or employer? Employee Agreement as condition of employment Does the inventor get royalties?

24 What you should have for an invention, besides a great idea Bound lab notebooks which document the conception of the idea and the research Periodic witness and dated signature by someone able to understand the invention, but who will not profit from it Completed ID form noting any sponsors, publications and all inventors.

25 Determining Inventorship Must include all who contributed intellectually and creatively to the invention. Best determined by the IP attorney. Need to have contributed to at least one of the claims. If needed, royalty split can reflect the relative efforts.

26 Licensing Intellectual Property Licensing handled by OIP staff. Most likely licensees are those who sponsored the research, companies the inventors suggests, or those in a similar or competing business. Maybe a start-up company will be formed around the technology Major financial parts of a license include: an up front fee (> patent costs to date), running royalties, future patent costs, and minimum royalties (milestones).

27 Contacting Potential Licensees Use a non-proprietary description of the invention to assess their interest initially. Have a Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement signed in order to provide additional technical details or speak with the inventors. A Provisional Patent application may be filed for added protection before speaking with industry. If they are still interested, arrange a meeting to discuss the “next step” - research dollars, option, license, etc.

28 Summary Basics of Intellectual Property Why we want to protect and license IP Various ways to protect IP Mechanisms for getting the technology out to the public