Where Do I Start?

To assess its patentability we need a written description of your invention. This will enable an Isis Project Manager to identify whether the work is patentable. The Isis Invention Record form is a series of questions which aims to extract the necessary information:-

Invention Record

(Please provide detailed answers on one or more separate sheets, marked CONFIDENTIAL)

1. Descriptive title of the invention.
   
   
2. Who was involved? Please tell us:
   a. Their names and if any are foreign nationals;
   b. Who their employer is, and if this is not Oxford, are any contracts or arrangements in place?
   
   
3. Please tell us about your invention:
   a. What do you think your invention is?
   b. What will your invention be used for?
   c. What are the advantages of your invention and how does it improve on the present situation?
   d. What is new about your invention?
   e. How and why does it work? What is the science behind the invention?
   f. Are there any other uses of the invention?
   
   
4. Are you aware of any companies who have an interest in the area, e.g. companies who sponsor research or who attend relevant conferences? If so, please supply the companies' names (and contact details, if you have them).
   
   
5. Do you know of any published literature (including patents) relevant to your invention? Have you done any searching for published literature, and if so where? Please provide any details.
   
   
6. Please tell us the story of the development of the invention:
   a. When and where was the invention first conceived?
   b. When was the invention first reduced to practice?
   c. What practical work ahs been done to date on the invention? Has the invention been tested in the laboratory or has it been used? If so please give results.
   d. Who did what in the development of the invention?
   
   
7. What are your future plans for developing the technology? Do you have funds in place for this work, and what do you think you will achieve in this area in the next 12 months?
   
   
8. Who have you told about the invention? When did you do this and where?
   
   
9. When did you first describe the invention in writing or electronically? Do lab book records exist, or personal notes?
   
   
10. Have you published, verbally, electronically or in writing, anything relevant to the invention, and if so when and what? Please tell us about abstracts, web pages and presentations as well as any published articles.
    
    
11. Do you have plans to publish the work? If so, what is the timescale and where will the publication take place? If a draft paper exists provide a copy.
    
    
12. What is the funding background of the work you've done on the invention? Did you use any equipment, materials, samples, gifts or other in kind support provided by third parties, or biological materials obtained from humans? If so, please give details; specifically: was patient consent obtained.
    
    

This Invention Record Should Be Signed And Dated By All Named Researchers.

The IP/1 and IP/2 forms (included on this site) must also be completed, signed by all researchers and returned to Isis for onward transfer to the University's Research Services Office to audit University ownership. It is not Isis policy to suggest delays to academic publications; so patent applications need to be filed in good time.

Forms

The next pages contain two sample Forms:-

1. IP/1 Intellectual Property Due Diligence Form
2. IP/2 Intellectual Property Income Distribution Form

Blank forms can also be obtained from Isis Innovation, Research Services Office, Wellington Square, or your departmental administrator.