It may cover such things as new or improved devices, systems, circuits, chemical compounds, mixtures, etc. It is probable that an invention has been made when something new and useful has been conceived or developed, or when unusual, unexpected, or nonobvious results have been obtained and can be exploited. An invention can be made solely or jointly with others as coinventors. To be recognized legally, a coinventor must have conceived of an essential element of an invention or contributed substantially to the general concept. Not all inventions are patentable.
Questions relating to patentability are often complex and usually require professional assistance.
General criteria for patentability An important criterion of patentability is that an invention must not be obvious to a worker with ordinary skill in that particular field. It must also be novel, in the sense that it not have been previously publicly known or used by others in this country or patented or described in a printed publication anywhere. Loss of patentability Inventions that are patentable initially may become unpatentable for a variety of reasons. An invention becomes unpatentable in the United States unless a formal application is filed with the U.S. Patent Office within 12 months of disclosure in a publication or of any other action which results in the details of the invention becoming generally available. Agencies sponsoring research at Stanford usually require reports of all inventions, whether or not they are considered patentable.