In the event the decision to pursue IP protection is made (patenting may not be necessary, such as with software), an OSR Commercialization Officer can assist you with the process.
Generally, this requires initial examination by the officer and the engagement of a third party patent agent. McGill provides the funds necessary to pursue filings, and looks for other sources to support these costs as well.
An invention can be patented if it meets all three of the following criteria:
- It must be novel (first in the world).
- It must be useful (operational and functional).
- It must show inventive ingenuity and be non-obvious to someone of average skill in the field.
Prior disclosure
Ensure that your invention is novel by:
- Verifying that the invention has not been publicly disclosed (see Information on Public Disclosure for more details), or if it has, that it is still within the allowable grace period.
- Searching the relevant literature (see McGill's Online Library Databases).
- Checking that the invention has not already been patented. Consult the following sites for information.
For more information on intellectual property, patents, know-how, public disclosure, copyrights, and moral rights, see McGill's Policy on Intellectual Property.