The Technology Transfer Program s professional staff. Such decision is based on the scope of the invention, its patentability, and commercial merit. TTP staff work with patent attorneys from at least 12 different private law firms from various states. These attorneys are carefully selected based on their legal and technical expertise. The entire process may take from two to six years.
Maintenance costs add several thousand dollars per patent.
However, TTP tries to recover such costs from research sponsors or licensees. Under current U. S. law, not all computer software may be patentable. Direct legal expenses related to the invention are deducted from gross revenue prior to distribution of the net income. If the inventor donates any portion of the proceeds to use in his or her research, TTP will add an equal amount into that University research account from its portion of the royalty income. All such funds shall be used for non-recurring research expenses.