The completion of the attached Intellectual Property Questionnaire is the first step in the disclosure of new software or invention developed at UT Tyler. First, this questionnaire is used as a source of basic information to help the Office of Sponsored Research evaluate your software or invention. Secondly, this questionnaire serves as documentation and evidence of the creation of your software or invention. Lastly, this questionnaire serves as a first disclosure to the patent attorney or patent agents assigned to your software or invention and serves as an information base for patentability search and opinions.
The Intellectual Property Questionnaire is divided into four major sections. It is important that the inventors of the intellectual property fill out the questionnaire as completely as possible. The importance of each section is discussed below:
- Description of the Software or Technology - It is important that we receive an adequate description of the software or technology, its special characteristics and its uses in order to evaluate and initiate marketing and licensibility studies. Use this section to highlight the differences between this software or technology and the "state of the art" in the area.
- Contributor Information (please designate a corresponding-contributor who will be the main contact for this disclosure). It is necessary for each contributor named on this form to participate in the completion of this form. The information is used to identify your current status and the status of your co-contributors (which is especially important when co-contributors are not UT employees). Your home address information is used in various legal documents that may be filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, when authorized, this information is used to direct disbursements of licensing income to your home.
- Publications and/or Oral Disclosures - Publications and oral disclosure have a bearing on the potential copyrightability/patentability of your software or technology. It is important that this section be filled out completely. Add additional pages if necessary.
- Financial Resources Used/Prior Obligations - Funding agencies, private grantors and sponsors oftentimes have rights in software/inventions.
It is imperative that this section be filled out as completely as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Blake Bextine at (903) 566-7323 or Brandon Reynolds at (903) 565-5950 in the Office of Sponsored Research. We appreciate your efforts!