Disclosure is critically important for all projects, especially where any portion of the funding comes from the Federal Government. To avoid overlooking intellectual property, researchers should err on the side of inclusion and let TTO secure a professional evaluation. TTO has ongoing relationships with dozens of intellectual property attorneys and a budget for paying these attorneys to examine any novel developments from a project. It is critically important to the technology transfer process that intellectual property be promptly and accurately disclosed via the University's sanctioned Invention Disclosure Form. Not only are disclosures important to the University, they are also a key requirement of federal law in all cases where any federal money is used.
Federal law has very specific requirements for prompt disclosure and management of inventions.
Failure to comply with these requirements can invalidate the University's claim of title and can jeopardize future grant awards to the University or the Principal Investigators' involved. The Technology Transfer Office is available to help Principal Investigators' complete the formal disclosure process. Recording Technology Development Written documentation of the conception and development of each technology is vital to support the legal protectability of each invention. This documentation should ideally be made in a sewn bound notebook and be witnessed as to date and content by a third party. A copy of any supporting documentation should also be attached to each invention disclosure.