Recommendation Letter for Inventors FITT (Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer)

2 | Name / Event Partner Logo Recommendation Letter for Inventors Case : Recommendation Letter for Inventors  The technology transfer office of Paris-Sud XI university sends a recommendation letter to the inventors involved in a patent application to: -inform them systematically on the status of the procedure at a specific moment (authorisation to disclose) -convince them to get in touch with the technology transfer officers prior to any publication  Generic case : the template of this letter can be used by other technology transfer offices. Simple procedure to set up.  2 stakeholders : technology transfer officers and inventor (nominative letter)  This case is related to the process of “Awareness creation ”. This letter clarifies the steps and terms related to the patent application, which the researchers may not be familiar with. This letter also enhances the importance of building up a strategy with regard to dissemination & publication of the invention. Researchers have a feeling of guidance and follow-up by the TTO which may foster future contacts.

3 | Name / Event Partner Logo Recommendation Letter for Inventors What is in the letter? Sender : technology transfer office of the university Recipient : inventor Contact name : technology transfer officier in charge of the invention Reference number of the invention Contact name : technology transfer officier “[Patent Attorney] has just sent us the authorisation to disclose and exploit the patent application mentioned in the heading. Please find attached a copy of the document. The authorisation to disclose and exploit should not be confused with the official publication of the patent application, which will take place 18 months after the date on which it was lodged. Until then, you may maintain secrecy over the existence and content of the patent application. However, if you wish to communicate on your invention, we would remind you that it is essential to keep to the contents of the patent application as it was lodged and not to disclose any information not mentioned in this document. This would prevent us from protecting this information at a later date. We would advise you to contact us to discuss what sort of communication strategy would be most appropriate to your project. Until that date, you have the option to maintain secrecy over the existence and content of the patent application”. Indication on the status of the patent application and recommandation on communication strategy: * Elements in blue are modified for each letter.

4 | Name / Event Partner Logo Recommendation Letter for Inventors Disclosure Authorisation Priority application Publication of the application months 12 months 18 months 24 to 36 months Registration Initial application Letter to inventor When?

5 | Name / Event Partner Logo Recommendation Letter for Inventors  Links to code book  Inventor  Invention disclosure  Patent  Link to related websites  Technology Transfer Office of Paris-Sud XI University : Suggested Readings