Invention and Copyright Information

Faculty/employees who conceive and/or make a potentially patentable or copyrightable invention are required to disclose those inventions to The University of Florida Office of Technology Licensing [OTL], according to the terms of their employment contracts. In order to obtain proper patent or copyright protection of inventions, OTL urges all inventors to submit disclosures as soon as possible. Timeliness of disclosure is especially important for inventions conceived and/or made with federal or state agency funding.

What is an invention?

An invention is a novel and useful idea relating to processes, machines, methods of manufacture, or compositions of matter. It may cover such things as new or improved devices, systems, circuits, chemical compounds, mixtures, biological materials, etc. It is probable that a new invention has been made when something new and useful has been conceived or developed, or when unusual, unexpected, or non-obvious results have been obtained and can be exploited.

Invention disclosure guidelines and UF patent policy

An invention disclosure, prepared according to the format shown in the "Outline for Disclosure of Invention," should be submitted to the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL). The "Outline" and UF Patent Policy may be obtained by calling 392-8929, or printing from the OTL website . The University may file a patent on an invention that has merit, i.e., an invention that would be of commercial value to the University and the inventor. Royalties on the commercialization of inventions are shared between the University and the inventor in accordance with UF Patent Policy.

Invention disclosure, marketing and licensing

The Office of Technology Licensing will review invention disclosures, conduct marketability studies, and evaluate the cost of patenting versus the potential for earning significant licensing income. If an invention may produce significant income for the inventor(s) and the University, then OTL will ask that the President take title to the invention. OTL and the inventor(s) will work together to apply for a patent and obtain a corporate licensee, as appropriate.

Patents and publication

Patenting an invention and publishing the results on the invention (or disclosing results at an oral presentation) are compatible. The only limitation is that a patent application should be filed before a written or oral "publication" is made in order to secure foreign patent rights. U.S. patent rights can be obtained as long as a U.S. patent application is submitted within one year after the information is first published or otherwise disclosed. Preparing a proper patent application takes time, and faculty/employee inventors are encouraged to submit invention disclosures to OTL as soon as possible.

Copyrights

Works generated using University personnel, facilities or equipment should bear the statement "Copyright 200_ University of Florida. All Rights Reserved." For example, software, text books and other published works should contain this statement. For many works, the copyright should also be registered with the Library of Congress. The Copyright Disclosure Form and the Request for Waiver of Copyright Interest Form (used when the author wants the University to waive its interest in the copyright) can be obtained from the Office of Technology Licensing.

Office of Technology Licensing (OTL)

Any questions regarding inventions, copyrights and patents can be addressed to:

Office of Technology Licensing
Office of Research
University of Florida
3rd Floor Walker Hall
PO Box 115500
Gainesville FL 32611
352/392-8929 ph.
352/392-6600 fax