Patent Procedures
Patent Procedures
Presented by
William W. Cochran
Purpose & Objectives
- Develop and maintain strong portfolio of patents
- Provide systematic way to handle inventions
- Provide guidelines for avoiding infringement of others patents
Intellectual Property Committee
- Term of Employees
- Review Invention Disclosures
- Recommend Course of Action
- Make Strategic Decisions on IP
- Information Needed by IP Committee
- Members of Committee
- Meetings
Patent Coordination
- Single Person – primary contact
- Oversees function of committee
- Primary contact for outside counsel
- Sets up IP meetings
- Final Decision maker on IP issues
Invention Disclosure Forms
- Complete – 15 minutes to ½ hour
- Send to Patent Coordinator
- Reference code listings, Inventors notebooks, other documentation & attach copies
- Make Invention Disclosure From available on company intranet
- Have witnessed
- List prior art known by inventor, public uses, sales, etc.
- List NDA’s that relate to invention
- Include a drawings or flow chart
- IP Coordinator should scan the form when received to determine if any pending statutory bars exist
IP Committee Meeting
- Item for review
- Timing – As needed
- Review of newly issued patents
- Product Marking Decisions
Review Invention Disclosure Forms
- Search and file – if prior art not found
- File
- Keep as a Trade Secret
- Deferral
- Inactive
- Foreign Filing
- Assign to IP attorney for filing