Commercialization of inventions based on university research is an important way to develop valuable products as well as an effective mechanism to disseminate knowledge gained from basic research. Many products on the market today originated from basic research conducted at universities.
Brown University owns rights to inventions made by its faculty, graduate students and employees as further described in the 2005 Brown University Patent and Invention Policy and Copyright Policy. Brown’s Office of Industry Engagement and Commercial Venturing (IECV) works with faculty and evaluates the novelty, potential patentability and commercial utility of inventions and if filed, negotiates licensing deals for commercialization. Inventors, their laboratories, their departments, as well as the university, all share in the proceeds generated from licensing of inventions.
Inventors should disclose potentially patentable inventions to IECV as early as possible by filling out an Invention Disclosure Form. Instructions are on the form itself. It is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT to submit an invention disclosure before making any public disclosures of the idea or invention (this includes giving presentations, submitting papers or posters, etc). Such public disclosures are likely to hamper or destroy our ability to file patents.