Guide to Invention Disclosure at OSU
Assess the patentability and commercial viability of your work
Are you an OSU faculty member, researcher, or student with an idea or discovery that might have widespread application? If so, we want to hear from you. Completing an online invention disclosure through our Inventor Portal is a crucial first step toward protecting your interests and your innovation’s potential.
This process not only safeguards your intellectual property but also ensures compliance with the invention reporting requirements mandated by federal agencies, industry standards, and other funding bodies. By formally recording your invention, you establish the groundwork necessary for obtaining patent protection and exploring commercial opportunities.
Engage early in your research process to maximize the potential of your project. This can open doors to new funding opportunities and collaborations that transform your innovative ideas into real-world solutions. Let’s innovate together and continue OSU’s legacy of driving scientific and technological advancement.
Initiate Your Invention Disclosure
Start a Conversation
If you are new to the invention disclosure process and have questions about how and when to complete an invention disclosure, reach out to us.
This option is also a good choice for experienced inventors who want help with focusing the description of the invention on the inventive aspects or evaluating who to list as an inventor(s).
Submit an Invention
If you're ready to proceed with an invention disclosure, please submit your invention through our online Inventor Portal. This submission is essential for assessing patentability and market opportunities, and for fulfilling mandatory invention reporting requirements.
Access the portal using your OSU credentials.
How the Inventor Portal Works
If you are new to the Inventor Portal, begin by clicking the “Request Account” button. You will need to enter your email address, after which you will receive an email containing your login credentials. Once a disclosure is submitted, OSU Advantage will send each inventor an email confirmation, which includes an OSU docket number and contact information for the licensing manager assigned to your invention. The licensing manager will contact you to coordinate the next steps and begin the process of exploring the potential of your research.
If you do not receive an acknowledgment from a licensing manager within a few days of submitting your invention disclosure, please contact our office to ensure the submission was received.
What You'll Need to Get Started
Our disclosure form requests the minimum amount of information necessary to move your innovation forward. Here is the most essential information that you will need to provide:
- Complete technical description: Describe the invention in sufficient detail that someone of comparable skill could replicate the invention. This includes all the important and inventive features, all the essential steps of using or making the invention, and all the ways in which the invention can be used. This must also include the best mode of use and/or most preferred version of the invention.
- Disclosure dates: OSU Advantage should be aware of all actual and planned publications, presentations, interviews or other means of sharing your idea on a non-confidential basis with those outside of the research team. Public disclosure before patent filing may jeopardize our ability to do so.
- Public disclosure, sale, or offer for sale of intellectual property (IP) prior to obtaining protection will seriously limit the ability to obtain patent protection. We request a minimum of TWO WEEKS' NOTICE of publication to guarantee timely evaluation and necessary protection.
Common examples of a public disclosure include publication of a manuscript in a printed or online journal, a displayed poster, a presentation to an audience, a lecture describing undisclosed inventions (including classroom lectures), a non-confidential customer/vendor meeting, and any sale or offer for sale of a "product" resulting from the IP.
If you have an invention that you are planning to disclose, please contact our office as soon as possible.
Contributor and Funding Information
All researchers who collaborated on the project should be listed with their contact information. This helps OSU Advantage determine the primary contributing individuals and institutions. Any and all funding that supported this work should be disclosed to determine if OSU must meet any obligations to sponsors, such as to report your progress, offer a license or share commercialization costs and revenues.
Need More Details or Assistance?
For your convenience, we have a step-by-step walkthrough guide of the Inventor Portal you can access here.
For any other assistance with the OSU Inventor Portal or questions about public disclosure, please contact our team or call 541-737-1732.
Additional Inventor Resources
We’re committed to connecting OSU researchers and inventors with the resources needed to take their work into the wider marketplace with confidence. For more general FAQ's, Policies, Agreements, and IP search tips, please visit our Intellectual Property Policy page.