PDS: What can you Patent? Should you Patent? (Current Topics in Bioengineering Career Talk)

Mary Raven, Ph.D. (Licensing Officer, Office of Technology & Industry Alliances) Thursday, February 22, 2018 Talk: 2:00pm-3:00pm, Elings #1601. RSVP: https://forms-csep.cnsi.ucsb.edu/forms/PDS/Registration.php Patent Advice: 3:00-4:30pm, Elings Hall Lobby. Separate RSVP: http://bit.ly/RSVPatent *Light refreshments will be provided* You cannot patent nature so, what can you patent? You can potentially patent any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. This can include biology but the approach to patenting certain aspects of biology, in particular, those covering DNA has been complicated by several U.S. Supreme Court rulings. It is helpful to evaluate if you SHOULD patent the invention prior to pursuing a patent. A patent costs tens of thousands of dollars over its life. Once granted, a patent grants the patent owner an exclusive, time-limited right to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale and import products/services covered by the patent. This means, patents are foremost commercial tools. Prior to patenting, an inventor or patent owner needs to evaluate the commercial case for the patent. If the decision to file a patent is made, a patent is typically filed with the help of a patent agent or patent attorney. As time allows, the talk will also include a brief overview patenting process.