The Office of Technology Transfer provides guidance for protection and commercialization of Mason's intellectual property (IP). We file patents, trademarks and copyrights to secure IP. In case of federally funded research, we ensure that federal reporting requirements for subject inventions are met with. Our team markets the technology, negotiates licensing agreements and assists Mason's faculty and students to create a start-up company. Under Mason's IP policy, we share income from IP commercialization with inventors.
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Disclose an invention: Researchers should complete an Invention Disclosure Form and file it with OTT before submitting work for publication or presenting it to outside entities. The form remains confidential. Once reviewed, we will contact you to discuss patentability and potential commercial applications.
Disclose Software: Researchers should complete a Software Disclosure Form and file it with OTT before sharing work with outside entities. The form remains confidential. Once reviewed, we will contact you to discuss patentability and potential commercial applications.
Tech transfer process: This is a multi-step procedure that includes looking into the licensing and patent processes, royalty and equity sharing, and marketing, among other issues. OTT has the expertise and experts to make this process go as smoothly as possible.
University Patent & Copyright Policy: Researchers can seek patent protection for a variety of processes, creations, plants, designs, machines, etc. OTT can guide you through procedures and explain how patent agreements protect the researcher and the university. In case of copyrights, OTT helps researchers clarify rights of authorship, ownership, and financial benefits and the roles and responsibilities under Mason's Patents & Copyright Policy of intellectual property.
Federal reporting requirements: The Bayh–Dole Act or Patent and Trademark Law Amendments Act applies to intellectual property developed with funding from the federal government. The act allows universities to pursue ownership of an invention in preference to the government.
United States Patent And Trademark Office: For further clarification on Intellectual Property questions please refer to USPTO website.