Top 5 Invention Disclosure Software to Streamline Your Patent Program in 2024

Ditching Excel or other makeshift methods for a specialized invention disclosure tool is a crucial pivot toward refining your patent strategy. Yet, it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. The market is teeming with options, each with its own features designed to streamline the innovation capture process across your organization.

You’ll find platforms that boast inventor-friendly, customizable forms designed to boost engagement among your innovators. Others highlight dashboards that provide a clear overview of your idea and patent pipeline, including detailed insights into patent portfolios and the activities of inventors and managers. 

Some solutions are tailored to foster innovation directly, enabling you to target specific challenges with campaigns that solicit creative solutions. And there are those that integrate patent incentives right into the software, making it easier to reward and motivate your team.

With such a diverse array of tools at your disposal, the key is to identify what aligns best with your organization’s objectives to fortify your patent program. To help you navigate this selection, here’s our insight on the top 5 invention disclosure software options to consider.

Features to Look For in Any Invention Disclosure Software

In 2022, the rush to secure intellectual property rights peaked, with global patent applications topping 3.46 million, as reported by the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2023. This surge underscores a global trend: companies eagerly seek to protect their groundbreaking innovations, keen on cementing their market dominance.

The frontrunners in this race are those equipped with streamlined processes and the optimal tools.

Before diving into our top software picks for invention disclosure, it’s crucial to understand the selection criteria. Here’s a breakdown of key factors to guide your decision-making process:

Ease of Use

The effectiveness of invention disclosure software is profoundly impacted by its user-friendliness. 

Software with an intuitive interface dramatically reduces the need for extensive training, promotes regular engagement, and smoothens the journey of logging new ideas. 

Aim for solutions that streamline the submission workflow with clear, concise instructions, allowing inventors to concentrate on their innovations rather than navigating the complexities of the tool.

Enterprise-Wide Innovation Capture

To effectively capture innovation throughout an organization, invention disclosure software must be easily accessible to employees in all departments. 

The software should feature role-based access, which is crucial to ensure that the user sees only the information he should have access to. Role-based access permits individual inventors to generate and edit their ideas, department heads to oversee and evaluate all submissions, and legal or IP teams to have exclusive access to sensitive information. 

Implementing this setup safeguards confidential data and promotes a culture of innovation that is both inclusive and secure.

Collaboration on Idea Development

The software’s ability to support and enhance brainstorming sessions is non-negotiable. The ideal software should enable seamless collaboration among team members, incorporating features such as real-time commenting, discussion threads, and recording keeping for changes in the idea summaries. 

These interactive features are essential for facilitating a dynamic exchange of ideas, allowing participants to engage in constructive dialogues, share feedback, and collectively refine concepts, irrespective of geographical barriers.

Moreover, the software should offer capabilities like version tracking, categorization of ideas, and linking related concepts or documents to maintain a structured brainstorming process and aid in revisiting and refining ideas over time.

Tailored Customization Capabilities 

Customization in invention disclosure software is paramount, enabling organizations to tailor the software to their unique workflows, terminology, and specific innovation capture nuances. 

This adaptability allows for adding, deleting, or editing fields, using diverse field types, and implementing conditional logic for a streamlined and efficient disclosure process. 

With features like customizable templates, branding options, controlled access to customization, and integration capabilities with existing enterprise systems, the software ensures that it can evolve with your business, maintaining relevance and effectiveness. 

Advanced Idea Filtration

A vital functionality in any invention disclosure software is the ability to filter through the myriad of captured ideas effectively. 

The ideal software should provide comprehensive filtering options, enabling users to efficiently organize and sift through ideas according to key parameters like development stage, technical domain, potential market uses, or the department of origin. 

Data-Driven Actionable Insights

The software should have sophisticated analytics and reporting capabilities, including insights into the likelihood of patent allowance and detailed examiner analytics, which can significantly reduce obstacles during the patent prosecution process. 

Such advanced features enable organizations to craft evidence-based patent prosecution strategies by leveraging data on past patent outcomes and examiner tendencies.

Tool Helpdesk and In-App Support

In-app support is crucial to ensure that your team can accomplish the purpose of investing in invention disclosure software.

The TIP Tool™ incorporates ‘i’ buttons within the software. These buttons provide instant explanations and useful information about various features and functionalities of the tool, enabling users to understand and utilize the tool more effectively without external assistance.

In addition to the in-tool support, Triangle IP offers a robust help desk platform. This platform is a treasure trove of learning materials, including video tutorials and written guides, covering various topics, from adding and editing ideas to navigating the dashboard and much more. 

These resources are designed to empower users to fully explore and leverage the tool’s capabilities to support their innovation and patent management processes.

Also Read: 7 Surefire Ways To Get More Invention Disclosures

5 Best Invention Disclosure Software to Look for in 2024

Selecting promising ideas for patenting lays the foundation for a strong patent portfolio. Thus, capturing innovation goes beyond mere documentation; it involves assessing the idea’s potential, aligning it with business strategies, and ensuring intellectual property protection.

The effective invention disclosure software streamlines this process, making idea submissions more efficient, improving evaluation methods, and fostering collaboration between legal and technical teams. 

However, selecting the most suitable software demands an understanding of its features, cost, and user reviews. To decide which one to pick for integrating into your patent mining process, let’s explore the top choices:

1. The TIP ToolTM by Triangle IP

The TIP Tool™ streamlines patent management by offering an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for capturing and tracking innovation across an organization. It enhances the patent lifecycle management through detailed patent data analytics.

Key Features and Benefits of the TIP ToolTM

Triangle IP’s TIP Tool™ democratizes patent portfolio management by offering user-friendly features and actionable insights into costs and patentability. It ensures role-specific access for all stakeholders within the organization, providing real-time updates and frequent communications from the patent office.

The TIP Tool™ transforms the overwhelming complexity of patent information management—often reliant on external counsel—into a streamlined process where users are empowered with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Its simplified analytics make strategic planning straightforward.

With the TIP Tool, strategic management of a patent portfolio becomes as familiar and accessible as managing any other standard business process.

Here is a quick walkthrough of its features to show how the tool delivers on its promise:

  1. Tracking of Ideas through Patents to Engage Stakeholders

The TIP Tool™ enhances patent pipeline visibility by updating users as ideas progress through stages such as ‘Idea Capture,’ ‘Internal Vetting,’ ‘Patent Drafting,’ and ‘Patent Filing.’ Users can move the ideas from one stage to another with easy-to-use drag-and-drop functionality.

  1. Intuitive Invention Disclosure Form to Boost Disclosures

The tool’s intuitive invention disclosure form boosts the number of captured disclosures. Plus, for businesses preferring controlled access, the idea capture form comes in both Word and Excel formats and is easily integrated back into the tool.

The form’s customization allows for the organization-specific tailoring of fields, enhancing relevance and focus during different stages of idea development.

With capabilities for tagging ideas by technology or business function and attaching supplementary materials, it streamlines the process of filtering and illustrating innovations, making it a versatile tool for capturing patentable ideas efficiently.

  1. Real-time Collaboration for Thorough Vetting of Ideas

The TIP Tool™ facilitates real-time brainstorming amongst stakeholders present across numerous remote locations. This seamless collaboration supports a thorough vetting process, enhancing the selection of potential ideas for patenting. 

Features like editing idea summaries, adding tags, and reviewing comments streamline capturing collective insights, similar to using Google Docs. Plus, it meticulously tracks all changes and the details of individuals responsible for every action, ensuring transparency and accountability in idea development. 

  1. Role-based Access for Enterprise-Wide Innovation Capture

The TIP Tool™ promotes enterprise-wide innovation capture as breakthrough ideas can come from anywhere in the enterprise (not just the R&D department) by facilitating role-based access. Role-based access ensures widespread participation in innovation capture programs while keeping the enterprise’s IP data confidential.

  1. Case Analytics and Cost Prediction for Informed Use of IP Budget

The TIP Tool™ facilitates strategic IP budgeting by offering analytics on the likelihood of patent allowance and associated end-to-end patenting costs. 

It evaluates patent applications to determine their chances of success at the patent office and provides statistics on patent counsel and examiners handling the cases. This guidance helps direct investments towards ideas with higher chances of approval.

The estimated costs cover filing, attorney, and maintenance fees for both provisional and non-provisional patent applications. Plus, it forecasts future expenses, like a maintenance fee due next month, helping you smartly plan your IP budget.

  1. Patent Application Status Updates to Stay in Sync With the USPTO

The TIP Tool™ automatically stays in sync with the USPTO, keeping users informed about their patent applications without requiring the help of an external legal counsel. It offers instant notifications on actions required by the USPTO and includes a private PAIR scrape feature for accessing the status of yet-to-be-published applications, enhancing transparency and control over the patenting process. 

Pricing 

Pricing for The TIP Tool™ includes a free tier for up to 10 users, a premium tier at $50 per month or $495 per year, and a custom tier for tailored needs. 

The tool also provides a demo playground featuring pre-populated data, allowing for an easy exploration of its functionalities. For more details, visit its pricing page

Customer Review

The tool has an impressive rating of 4.5 stars on G2. Here’s a review by a trusted customer: 

2. Onit Invention Disclosure

Onit Invention Disclosure Software offers a comprehensive electronic process for the management of intellectual property (IP) from research to commercialization. It’s designed to guide inventors through the process of documenting and evaluating their inventions for potential market value, ensuring that every step towards protecting and commercializing IP is thoroughly covered. 

Source- Onit 

Key Features Offered by Onit Invention Disclosure

Onit Invention Disclosure guides staff through the stages of exploiting IP, providing a means to examine commercial applications of inventions and identify inventorship. Here are some key features of the tool: 

  1. Guided Invention Disclosure Process

This feature navigates staff through the complex stages of IP exploitation, offering a structured pathway from initial idea to potential commercialization. It ensures that all necessary steps are taken to protect the intellectual property effectively.

  1. Event-Based Workflow

The tool establishes a detailed timeline and description of an invention using an event-based workflow. This helps in documenting how the invention was created and can be reproduced, highlighting its significance, improvements over existing designs, and its distinctiveness from prior art.

  1. IP Capture and Commercial Viability Analysis

The software enables IP teams to capture and track new inventions from the outset, assessing their commercial viability. This functionality is crucial for making informed decisions regarding IP protection and the commercialization process, thereby enhancing the strategic management of intellectual property.

Pricing 

The price of the software is not available publicly. 

Customer Review 

Source- G2

3. Discovery by Rowan Patents

Discovery by Rowan Patents is designed to streamline the invention disclosure and patent drafting process, focusing on efficiency and clarity. It provides tools to help patent practitioners and inventors quickly identify and document patentable inventions, ensuring high-value work takes precedence.

Source- Rowan Patents

Key Features Offered by Discovery

The Discovery by Rowan Patents aims to speed up the drafting and filing of patent applications by facilitating the right queries for building inventive concepts, as well as offering the following suite of features. 

  1. Drafting Process Simplification

The software provides a user-friendly interface that helps practitioners organize ideas directly into patent documents, significantly reducing time spent on formatting and allowing for quicker drafting.

  1. Enhanced Patent Drafting Efficiency

The tool streamlines the patent drafting process, allowing inventors and patent practitioners to identify the core elements of patentable innovations quickly. This focus on efficiency ensures that more time can be spent on refining and protecting novel ideas.

  1. Prioritization of Strategic Patent Development

By guiding inventors to ask the right questions about their inventions, the software ensures that every patent application is built on a solid foundation of the inventive concept. This strategic approach not only improves the quality of patents but also the potential for their approval.

  1. Optimization of Financial Resources

The platform reduces the time to draft and file patent applications, cutting down on misunderstandings and revisions. This efficiency directly contributes to a better bottom line by speeding up the protection process and reducing associated costs.

  1. Discovery-Focused Functionality

The software is designed specifically for the discovery phase of patent development; it aids attorneys in swiftly capturing and documenting protectable ideas, making it a crucial tool for law firms and corporate legal departments alike.

  1. Integrated Collaboration Capabilities

With its in-band collaboration features and automated workflows, Discovery keeps all communications and documents in one place. This centralized approach eliminates confusion and streamlines the patent application process.

  1. AI-Driven Predictive Analytics

Leveraging AI-backed analytics, Discovery offers insights into the originality, allowance rate, and potential success of patent applications. This predictive capability enables users to make informed decisions on which inventions to pursue, enhancing the strategic management of IP portfolios.

Pricing 

The annual subscription cost for Discovery is determined by several key factors, including the volume of patent applications processed and the number of practitioners utilizing the software. You can also book a no-obligation discovery call with Rowan Patents to learn more. Check it out for precise details. 

Customer Review 

Source- Rowan Patents

4. DIAMS Invent by Dennemeyer

DIAMS Invent, as part of Dennemeyer’s IP management suite, is a comprehensive Intellectual Property (IP) management software designed for corporations and universities with a focus on Research & Development (R&D). It streamlines the entire IP lifecycle from invention disclosure to patent filing and litigation management, facilitating a seamless exchange between R&D teams and IP departments. 

Source- DIAMS

Key Features Offered by DIAMS Invent

Developed with nearly 60 years of IP management experience, DIAMS Invent offers a user-friendly platform with extensive customization options to meet the diverse needs of any industry.

Here are some key features of DIAMS Invent: 

  1. Mass Creation of IP Records

The tool enables inventors to quickly generate accurate IP records and file letters with just a few clicks, significantly reducing administrative workload. 

  1. Seamless R&D and IP Team Collaboration

The software provides a platform for easy communication and document transfer between R&D personnel and IP managers, thereby enhancing collaboration and efficiency in the development and protection of intellectual property.

  1. In-depth Analysis and Dashboards

It offers comprehensive reporting tools and customizable dashboards, providing insights into the status, performance, and trends of the IP assets for data-driven decision-making and management of IP portfolios.

  1. Customizable Invention Disclosure Workflows

Organizations can design and implement custom workflows, including custom form builders for assessment and digital handover processes.

  1. Integrated Prior Art Search

The tool incorporates AI-based patent search tools to streamline the prior art search process, aiding in the assessment of invention novelty and patentability.

Pricing 

The price of the software is not available publicly. However, you can register for their free demo here

Customer Review 

Source- DIAMS

5. Memotech by Clarivate

Memotech, by Clarivate, is an advanced and customizable IP Management System tailored for large corporate IP departments. It offers full visibility across the entire IP lifecycle, facilitating innovation, improving IP management and protection, and enabling agile portfolio management and optimization.

Source- G2

Key Features Offered by Memotech

Memotech allows seamless integration with existing systems and customization to align with specific organizational needs, significantly reducing administrative workload and fostering informed decision-making through deep analysis and accurate data verification.

Here are some key features of Memotech:

  1. Portfolio Visibility

The software provides a unified platform for all IP-related information, ensuring team members and stakeholders have access to necessary data throughout the IP lifecycle. This feature enhances transparency and accessibility, making it easier to manage and track the progress of IP assets.

  1. Deep Analysis

It offers robust reporting tools that combine critical data for controlling costs and aligning with the company’s IP strategy. This facilitates informed decision-making by providing insights into trends, asset value, and strategic alignment.

  1. Clean, Accurate Data

The tool features automated data verification against IP One Data to ensure the reliability and accuracy of bibliographic details. This minimizes errors and maintains the integrity of the IP portfolio.

  1. Hosted or On-Premise

The software is available as both an on-premise installation and a hosted solution; it provides flexibility in deployment according to the organization’s needs. This choice comes with dedicated support, high security, and continuous maintenance and monitoring.

  1. Workflow Automation

It streamlines IP processes with customizable workflows for consistent steps and approval chains. This application supports invention disclosure, trademark search, and filing processes, enhancing efficiency and output quality through automation.

  1. Meeting Application

The tool simplifies meeting preparations and accelerates decision-making. It facilitates the review of key data, recommendations, and meetings to make action IP decisions, all while integrating seamlessly with Memotech for data sharing.

Pricing

You need to contact their sales team for pricing details. 

Customer Review 

Source- G2

TIP ToolTM – Your Dependable Invention Disclosure Software 

Choosing the best invention disclosure software involves considering many factors, such as ease of use, comprehensive management features, customization, and security of IP data. 

However, the ultimate goal of selecting the right invention disclosure software is to streamline the IP management process in your organization. And the TIP Tool™ by Triangle IP does exactly that. It’s designed for companies aiming to protect their IP efficiently while fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. 

The TIP Tool™ by Triangle IP enhances the user experience with an innovative demo playground. This demo playground is equipped with a simulated patent portfolio, enabling potential users to delve into the tool’s functionalities without incorporating their personal patent data. This feature is especially beneficial for users who wish to understand the tool’s capabilities in a risk-free environment.

By registering for an interactive product demo, users gain firsthand experience with the TIP Tool™, exploring its wide array of features designed to manage patent portfolios efficiently and optimize the patent mining process. This hands-on approach allows users to assess how the TIP Tool™ can meet their specific needs in protecting and managing intellectual property. 

To see how the TIP Tool™ can elevate your IP management strategy, register on the TIP Tool™ today! 

Stop! Read This before Investing in Any Invention Disclosure Software

The global Intellectual Property software market is experiencing a significant growth and is expected to reach $22.7 billion by 2030.  

This jump isn’t just out of the blue. It’s because businesses are really waking up to the importance of Intellectual Property Rights, especially with how fast the digital world is growing. 

Protecting innovations with patents is crucial to prevent copying by competitors, which could undermine your enterprise’s market position. 

However, capturing innovations and ensuring active participation from innovators in the patent program can be daunting. To simplify this, there’s a need for user-friendly invention disclosure software that keeps innovators engaged throughout the process.

To assist in this area, we have prepared a comprehensive guide that must be read before selecting any invention disclosure software. After all, inappropriate selection can break the patent mining process.

Let’s dig in!

What is Invention Disclosure Software?

Invention Disclosure Software is a specialized tool designed to streamline and secure the process of documenting new inventions. At its core, it serves as a digital platform where inventors and researchers can formally record their ideas, detailing the specifications, potential applications, and development stages of their inventions. 

Invention disclosure software usually offers a form as a central feature. This form is the heart of the process, designed to capture the essence of new inventions meticulously. The length of the invention disclosure form directly impacts the form’s usability and comprehensiveness. 

How Long Should an Invention Disclosure Form Be?

The length of an invention disclosure form can greatly vary, reflecting not just the number of pages but, more importantly, the quality and clarity of the information it captures. Innovators, whether from academic circles or private industry, have different needs and preferences when it comes to the detail required in these forms. 

It’s essential for organizations to find a middle ground: a form detailed enough to comprehensively cover the necessary aspects for patenting yet concise enough to be approachable and not burdensome for the innovator. This balance is key in creating a form that effectively serves its purpose without discouraging valuable contributions from diverse innovators.

Types of Invention Disclosure Forms

In various settings, the choice between short and long invention disclosure forms is strategic, reflecting the specific needs of the environment. 

Universities and research institutions often require long forms to capture extensive information, such as the source of funding, as it affects the ownership of the invention, future research directions, etc. Academia typically accommodates the complexity of long forms well, as the culture inherently values thorough documentation. 

Conversely, in industries like software development, where speed and efficiency are paramount, shorter forms are preferred. Software engineers, prioritizing rapid development and iteration, generally favor succinctness, making short forms more effective for capturing the essence of inventions without the burden of extensive paperwork.  

Broadly, there are three types of invention disclosure forms: 

Short Forms

The short invention disclosure form collects minimal details like title, inventor emails, and a summary.

  • Pros: Maximizes innovator engagement and allows a broader conceptual view of the invention.
  • Cons: Provides limited information for commercial and legal reviews; patent drafters may need more time to understand the invention.

Medium Forms

The medium invention disclosure form Includes additional fields like problem statement, state of competition, alternatives, and public disclosures.

  • Pros: Captures high-level information necessary for review without needing further details from innovators.
  • Cons: Requires more time from inventors; some fields might remain unfilled due to lack of understanding.

Long Forms

Long invention disclosure forms are commonly used in academic and research settings. It includes extensive details like prior art, future research efforts, commercial uses, and resources used.

  • Pros: Provides a comprehensive assessment of the invention.
  • Cons: Can be intimidating for innovators in non-academic settings, leading to fewer disclosures.

An organization should also consider factors like the volume of disclosures, innovator personalities, patent counsel location, and experience levels while choosing the length of an invention disclosure software.

As the length of an invention disclosure form is closely tied to its level of detail, it’s crucial to understand the specific fields that are included. These fields are the backbone of thorough documentation and are essential for effective patent application preparation. 

So, let’s see the key fields that should be included in an Invention Disclosure Form.

Fields in an Invention Disclosure Form

The selection of fields in an Invention Disclosure Form (IDF) is tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of different organizations. For instance, enterprises may require detailed information on product commercialization efforts, while academic institutions might focus more on research and development aspects.  

However, here are some essential fields to look for in an invention disclosure form

Invention Details

  • Title: Descriptive and concise to differentiate the IDF.
  • Field/Area of Invention: Indicates the technology area, crucial for sorting and legal considerations.
  • List of Inventors: Includes those who contributed significantly to the invention.
  • State of the Art: Describes prior art and how the invention differs from it.
  • Detailed Description of the Invention: The most detailed section explaining the invention, its advantages, and how it differs from prior art.
  • Alternate Embodiments: Describes alternative versions of the invention.
  • Tags/Keywords: Helps in organizing and finding IDFs.

Other Fields Associated with the Invention

  • Disclosure/Publication of the Invention: Addresses any public disclosures and their implications for patentability.
  • Product/Commercialization: Inquires about attempts to commercialize, sell, or publicly use the invention.
  • Market Information: Requests information about market potential, competitors, and possible licensees.
  • Collaborators: Contact information for managers, prosecutors, and law firms.
  • Additional details to be filled by managers: Includes additional details like value, ranking, patentability score, and filing deadlines.
  • Assignment to Confirm Ownership: Ensures legal title transfer to the enterprise.

Miscellaneous

  • Future Research for Commercialization: Outlines plans for further development.
  • Funding and Biological Material Deposits: Information on external funding and deposits of biological materials.
  • Third-Party Code in Software: Addresses ownership and licensing issues.
  • University/Lab Resources Used: Determines ownership based on resource usage.

Also Read: Invention Disclosures | Enablers and Blockers

Checklist for Selecting the Best Invention Disclosure Software

Here’s a complete checklist to select the best invention disclosure software tailored to streamline your innovation management process.

How Simple or Intuitive is it for Inventors to Fill the IDF Provided by the Invention Disclosure Software?

When selecting the best invention disclosure software, one of the foremost factors to consider is the simplicity and intuitiveness of the Invention Disclosure Form (IDF). It is crucial because the ease with which the inventors at your enterprise can document their ideas significantly impacts the quality and completeness of the information captured. 

The software should feature a user-friendly interface. A clean, uncluttered layout with clearly marked sections and easy-to-navigate menus can make the process less intimidating and more inviting. 

Also, good software often includes helpful prompts, tips, or instructions within the IDF. These can guide inventors on the type of information required in each field and how to articulate their ideas effectively.

Does the Software Allow to Customize the Invention Disclosure Form?

Customization is crucial because it allows inventors to tailor the form as per their specific needs and the nuances of their invention. 

Customization Features to Look For:

  • Add/Delete/Edit Fields: The software should empower to add new fields, delete irrelevant ones, or edit existing fields to suit the nature of the invention. 
Invention Disclosure Software: Customizable idea form by TIP tool™
  • Variety in Field Types: The software should offer diverse field types such as text boxes, dropdown menus, checkboxes, date selectors, and file upload options. 
  • Conditional Logic: The software should provide conditional logic, adapting the form based on the answers to previous questions for a more streamlined experience.
  • Customizable Templates: The software should have the ability to create and use customizable templates as it saves time, especially when dealing with various types of inventions.
  • Branding and Styling Options: The software should allow branding and styling of the IDF to reflect your organization’s branding.
  • Control Over Customization: The software should provide controlled access to customization, letting you manage who can edit the form to maintain consistency.
  • Integration with Other Systems: Assess if the software can integrate with other enterprise systems, like CRM, ERP, or project management tools, for efficient data incorporation.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: The software should include feedback mechanisms on the IDF, facilitating continuous improvement based on user experiences

Does the Software Facilitate Enterprise Wide Innovation Capture?

It’s essential to choose a tool that not only caters to individual inventors but also seamlessly integrates into the broader enterprise ecosystem. This means the software should be accessible and user-friendly for employees across all departments and levels, ensuring that every spark of innovation, no matter where it originates, is captured and recorded. 

Must explore the top 5 invention disclosure software options to choose the best for your enterprise.

Enterprise wide innovation capture can be made possible with role based access to the idea collection tool.

Role-based access allows you to define what each user, or group of users, can see and do within the software. For example, a research team member might have the ability to submit and edit their own ideas, while a department head may have broader access to view and evaluate all submissions within their department. Similarly, legal or IP teams might have exclusive access to sensitive information related to patentability and intellectual property rights.

The role-based access control also ensures that sensitive information is appropriately safeguarded. Such granularity in access rights is crucial for maintaining confidentiality and fostering a secure environment for innovation. 

Invention Disclosure Software: Role-based access with TIP tool™

How Does the Software Facilitate Brainstorming Over Ideas?

Brainstorming is pivotal in nurturing and refining ideas within your organization. This aspect of the software can significantly influence how ideas evolve from initial concepts to fully-fledged innovations.

Firstly, consider how the software enables team members to collaborate on ideas. A platform that offers interactive features like real-time commenting, discussion threads, or virtual whiteboards can be incredibly valuable. These tools allow team members to contribute thoughts, provide feedback, and build upon each other’s ideas, regardless of their physical location. 

Additionally, look for software that organizes and tracks the evolution of ideas. Features like version history, idea categorization, and the ability to link related ideas or documents can help keep the brainstorming process structured and focused. This organization is crucial in ensuring that valuable insights and developments aren’t lost in the flurry of collaboration. It also aids in revisiting and refining ideas over time, an important aspect of turning initial concepts into actionable innovations.

Invention Disclosure Software: Real time collaboration with TIP tool™

Does the Software Offer any Data-Driven Actionable Intelligence for Idea Selection?

The software should ideally include analytics and reporting tools that analyze the submitted ideas. It should go beyond basic idea selection by offering data-driven actionable intelligence for patent strategy, such as likelihood of allowance and examiner analytics to navigate friction at the patent office. 

These features help in building a stronger, evidence-based strategy for patent prosecution by analyzing past outcomes and examiner behaviors, which is crucial for enhancing the chances of patent grant success.

Invention Disclosure Software: Case analytics with TIP tool™

Does the Software Allow the Filtering of Captured Ideas?

The ability to filter captured ideas is a critical feature in invention disclosure software, especially for organizations dealing with a high volume of submissions. Look for software that offers robust filtering options. These should allow you to sort and categorize ideas based on various criteria, such as the stage of development, technical field, potential market applications, or the originating department within your organization. 

Does the Software Allow a Free Trial?

A free trial is crucial for evaluating invention disclosure software, allowing users to test its functionality and ease of use in a real setting. Moreover, it provides a practical way to assess the software’s integration with existing workflows and its effect on enhancing innovation processes, ensuring it meets organizational needs without risk.

The TIP Tool™ by Triangle IP offers a free trial and a unique demo playground feature. This includes a dummy patent portfolio, allowing users to explore the tool’s functionalities without the need to add their own patents. 

By signing up for an interactive product demo, users can experience the comprehensive features of the TIP Tool™ firsthand, facilitating an in-depth understanding of its capabilities in managing patent portfolios and streamlining the innovation process. 

Why Did the Founder Choose to Create This Software?

Understanding why the founder chose to create the invention disclosure software can provide valuable insights into the software’s core philosophy, design principles, and intended audience. This background story often sheds light on the unique features and strengths of the software, making it easier for you to determine if it aligns with your organization’s needs.

Typically, founders are driven by a specific gap or challenge they’ve identified in the market or from personal experience.

For instance, Triangle IP was founded by Thomas Franklin, a veteran patent attorney to transform patent management with the cloud-based TIP Tool™, making it accessible and efficient for businesses of all sizes. Leveraging deep learning and data analytics, the TIP Tool™ simplifies portfolio management, providing real-time updates and strategic insights. This innovation democratizes patent strategy, enabling companies to secure their intellectual property with ease and clarity. to democratize the patent process. 

Must Read: “Why We Set Out to Build The TIP Tool – The Best Idea and Patent Management Tool for Medium-Sized Enterprises.”

The TIP Tool™ – Your Ultimate Invention Disclosure Software

Selecting the appropriate invention disclosure software is crucial for laying the foundation of an effective patent mining process. The TIP Tool™ emerges as your ultimate solution, offering a seamless blend of functionality, user-friendliness, and comprehensive features tailored for effective idea management and streamlined patent process.

The TIP Tool™ offers an inventor-friendly Invention Disclosure Form (IDF). The form is available in Word and Excel formats separately as well, which once filled is readable back into the tool.

Invention Disclosure Software: Idea capture form

Here are some other key features of the TIP Tool™: 

  • Intuitive Invention Disclosure Form: Helps capturing more disclosures.
  • Patent Pipeline Visibility: Allows tracking of ideas from capturing to patent drafting and filing.
  • Real-time Collaboration: Enables engagement amongst all stakeholders – inventors, managers, attorneys, regardless of their physical locations.
  • Case Analytics and Cost Prediction: Provides estimates on patentability and the end-to-end costs of obtaining a patent.
  • USPTO Status Updates: Keeps track of published and unpublished patent applications.

So, don’t let your team’s innovative ideas go unrecognized and unprotected. As an innovation manager, your role is pivotal in transforming these concepts into valuable assets for your enterprise.  Try out the TIP Tool™ today and experience a new level of efficiency and security in managing your intellectual property.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is There Any Free Invention Disclosure Software to Use?

Yes, some invention disclosure software options offer free versions or plans with basic features, ideal for individual inventors or small teams starting out on their innovation journey. Here is a must check-out list of free idea-sharing platforms.

2. Can I Use Excel spreadsheets for Managing Patentable Ideas?

Yes, you can use Excel spreadsheets for managing patentable ideas. However, relying on Excel spreadsheets for managing intellectual property assets might not be the best approach because it leads to issues like poor text handling, outdated data, susceptibility to errors, limited filtering and collaboration capabilities, and inadequate workflow management tools. 

3. Can I Use Docketing Software for Managing Patentable Ideas?

Yes, docketing software can be used for managing patentable ideas, especially for tracking patent application deadlines and statuses, but it may not offer comprehensive features for the initial invention disclosure phase.

4. How Can I Get More Invention Disclosures?

To get more invention disclosures, train inventors about the importance of intellectual property, simplify the invention capture process, ensure access to IP experts, implement a patent incentive program, make participation in the IP program part of the job description, promote the patent program from the executive level, and embed the creation of IP into your organization’s culture.

5. How Can I Get Effective Invention Disclosures?

To get effective invention disclosures, educate inventors on disclosure importance, emphasize the significance of disclosures, offer timely support during the disclosure process, present exemplary disclosures as guides, and ensure continuous communication between inventors and innovation managers. 

6. How Much Does the TIP ToolTM Cost?

The TIP Tool™ offers a free two-month trial and a free basic version. The premium version costs $50 per month or $495 per year, with custom pricing options available for different needs.

Source – Triangle IP

How Detailed Should Your Invention Disclosure Form Be?

Your IDF (Invention Disclosure Form) needs to be as detailed as needed by your organization. Balancing the length and content of the IDF is crucial, and insights into streamlining invention disclosures can help in achieving this balance.

“If the form is too long, your innovators might disengage from the disclosure process. And, if the form is too short, you might not get enough information to evaluate the innovations”

But there is no one-size-fits-all solution either. Some innovators, such as people in academic or research settings, might be comfortable with longer disclosure forms since they can copy-and-paste information from their academic articles. Other innovators, such as those in private industry, might balk at anything longer than one page due to their busy workloads.

To get the right level of detail from your innovators, you need to balance the competing interests of your developers, your business, and your patent counsel. Here are some factors to consider in creating your invention disclosure form.

Details Matter More Than You Think

Your goal in creating an invention disclosure form is to capture everything your innovators have created. This includes leveraging the value of patent mining in idea management to ensure comprehensive coverage. This obviously includes the IP embodied in your products. But it also includes the other inventions, variations, and embodiments that were set to the side.

For an invention disclosure form to have value in patent mining, you need maximum engagement with your disclosure process. This favors an invention disclosure form that requires inventors to provide a minimal level of detail. Such a form will be less time-consuming and less burdensome to your inventors.

On the other hand, the details of the invention will help your management and your patent counsel do their jobs. Without the details about the invention’s marketable and patentable features, your invention disclosures will not provide the necessary information to evaluate whether to patent the invention.

Must Read: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Invention Disclosure Software

Various Options for Invention Disclosure Forms

Taking these considerations into account, an organization can customize an invention disclosure form to their own needs. These needs could include:

  • The volume of invention disclosures
  • The personalities of the innovators
  • Whether patent counsel is in-house or at an outside firm
  • The experience level of the innovators with the patent process
  • The experience level of management with the patent process

These needs can be designed to develop an invention disclosure form that performs all the functions described above and meets the needs of the organization. Generally, invention disclosure forms fall into three general categories based on the level of detail requested from the inventors. Choosing a form may be an iterative process with developers providing feedback on what works and what does not work.

Short Invention Disclosure Forms

A short invention disclosure form collects the bare minimum of details from the inventors. One example is provided by Triangle IP. In the default form template provided in the Triangle IP management system, the form has mandatory fields for the title of the invention and the inventor emails and an optional field for a summary of the invention. It also includes fields for use by management, including an idea number, a manager’s email, and scores for evaluating the submission.

This short form will produce maximum engagement from your organization’s innovators. By providing a simple form, the innovators will only need a few minutes out of their busy schedules to prepare and submit the form. If additional details are required later, your management or patent counsel can speak to the inventors.

Short Form As Designed at Triangle IP

Here is how the idea capture form at Triangle IP looks like:

Short Invention Disclosure Form

This form includes fields for an internal tracking number, which we informally call an Idea Number. The inventors choose a title that provides a shorthand for stakeholders to refer to the invention. The title should be detailed enough to summarize the purpose of the invention disclosure.

Quick Update: The inventors can upload this offline form back into the TIP Tool to have all their ideas in one place.

The inventors and the manager(s) responsible for reviewing the invention submission include their contact information. This also provides a way to track who submitted the idea and who are the stakeholders of the idea.

The inventors write a summary of the invention. The level of detail in this field will reflect your organization’s philosophy on invention submissions. At a minimum, the summary should provide enough information for a non-inventor to understand the invention and its most significant features.

Management and patent counsel fill in the remainder of the form. The value of the invention is a subjective rating given by management based on the business need for the invention. Tags identify the subjects covered by the invention and provide a way to categorize and search for the invention disclosure.

The prosecutor email provides contact information for the patent attorney responsible for the case. The patentability rating is a rating given by patent counsel based on the distinctions between the invention and the prior art. The filing deadline is assigned based on legal bars to patentability, such as product releases.

Pros:

  • Invention disclosure forms that are light on detail have two primary benefits:
    • First, a short form minimizes the barriers for inventors to prepare the form.
    • The form will not consume much of the innovators’ time or effort to prepare.
  • Second, a short form allows management and patent counsel to take a broad view of the invention. That is, reducing the amount of detail will allow management and patent counsel to think about the invention conceptually rather than focusing on a specific embodiment.

Cons:

  • A short form that is light on detail will give less information for the commercial and legal reviews. As a result, management and patent counsel might fail to appreciate the essence of the invention when evaluating it.
  • Patent drafters will need more time to understand the invention. They will be required to gather details manually. More time equals more money. 
  • Decision making might not be based on the full picture of the value.

Also read: 7 Surefire Ways to Get More Invention Disclosures

Medium Invention Disclosure Forms

A medium invention disclosure form builds on the short form. It adds some additional information that might help both management and patent counsel evaluate and analyze the invention. Some other relevant information that could assist both includes:

  • Problem: A short statement of the problem that the invention solves. An organization may prefer to have a problem statement as a separate field instead of having it in the summary section.
  • State of the competition: The closest competing products or product features.
  • Alternatives: A description of the variations and alternate embodiments the inventors have conceptualized.
  • Public disclosures: Any past or upcoming disclosures that might create a bar to patentability. For example, product releases, presentations, speeches, and marketing material could all be relevant to patentability.

The invention form may also suggest that the inventors attach white papers, diagrams, photographs, or other descriptions of the invention that may provide additional detail.

At Triangle IP, we also facilitate customization of IDF within the TIP tool itself. You can add up to 10 new fields. There is also a functionality to edit, delete, or hide certain fields from the existing form. You can do all this very intuitively and easily from within the TIP tool – an intellectual property management software by Triangle IP.

The major benefit that organizations receive by this customization is seamless adaptation to their internal nomenclature.

Customizable Invention Disclosure Form (Medium in Length)

Pros:

The form captures high level information necessary for a review without needing to query the innovators for additional detail. Reviewers often need more information to approve the innovation for patent drafting. Such a level of information capture can help reviewers save some project resources.

Cons:

Additional details require more time from the innovators that have other tasks. They often don’t understand what many of these additional fields mean. You can expect to receive many fields not filled up.

Long Invention Disclosure Forms

Long invention disclosures are usually used in academic settings or in research labs. Longer invention disclosure forms provide the organization the ability to track the use of grant money and other resources and monetize the products of those efforts. Since innovators at academic settings and research labs often publish their findings; a long invention disclosure form can usually be filled out using information already prepared for publication.

Long invention disclosure forms might include the following and more:

  • Prior art: A discussion about the prior art by the inventors and others. This is often included in academic articles as background.
  • Future research efforts: A discussion of how the invention may evolve into other embodiments or other inventions.
  • Commercial uses: A discussion about the potential uses for the invention in products and service offerings. The discussion might also touch on potential licensing partners to exploit the invention.
  • Resources used: A discussion of the grants or other resources used to develop the invention.

Pros:

A high level of detail provides the greatest volume of information to thoroughly assess the invention.

Cons:

In non-academic settings many innovators may feel intimidated by such long forms. As a result, decreasing the number of overall inventions disclosures received.

Also read: Fields in the Invention Disclosure Form | The Master List

On a side note: Would you want to know how your patent application is progressing at the USPTO compared to other applications in the same domain? 

The TIP tool offers statistics of the law firm and the examiner handling your case. Once the application is filed at the USPTO, and an examiner is allotted to your case, the tool indicates the relative performance of the law firm handling your case. The statistics revolve around the number of arguments, grant rate, and grant time. The tool also indicates the case health, for instance, it can tell you if a case needs your attention. There is a whole bunch of insights that you can gather from the TIP tool for strategic patent prosecution.

Request insights for any of your cases at the patent office using the form below.

Choosing an Invention Disclosure Form Wisely

With careful consideration of your organization’s needs and feedback from your innovators , you can design an invention disclosure form that fits your organization. Short forms provide the broadest view of the invention for management and patent counsel to evaluate the invention. At the same time, you may find that the level of detail provided in medium forms can be collected without discouraging inventors from filling them out. And highly detailed long forms can serve multiple purposes by collecting information about the development and commercialization of the product.

A short form template can be downloaded from Triangle IP. This template is available in Microsoft Word and Excel formats. This template is free to use even if you are not a Triangle IP customer. The bonus is this offline form shall soon be readable back into the tool. The new release of Triangle IP’s TIP tool is just a few weeks away. Register for exclusive early access.

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This means that if you choose to use the TIP tool in the future, you will be able to import these forms for entry into the system.

Note: The preceding is general business advice and not to be construed as legal advice. IP laws vary by country and retaining licensed legal counsel is advised to confirm this information. Any expressed or implied opinions are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Triangle IP or any other entity who might be associated with the presenter. We hope this content is helpful to you, but should not be relied upon without confirming the advice and accuracy with local legal counsel. Any comments or inquiries are not confidential so please discuss your issues directly with counsel.

Fields in an Invention Disclosure Form: The Master List

“Fields in an invention disclosure form must be chosen to maximize the engagement from inventors.”

What is an Invention Disclosure Form (IDF)?

An invention disclosure form (IDF) records important technical information and facts relating to an invention. In this context, comprehending the intricacies of invention disclosure forms becomes crucial for both inventors and innovation managers. IDF acts as a business record for your company to decide whether to invest in patent protection. It also provides critical information to patent practitioners for preparing patent applications around inventions. It also provides information that can implicate patent issues such as publication and sales activity.

For an inventor, filling out an IDF can be a daunting process. As an innovation manager you need to make sure that the IDF template is:

  • Inventor friendly
  • Suits your organizational needs

Balancing these requirements is easier with advanced innovation management tools that cater to diverse organizational structures.

If there are multiple inventors, any one of them can be designated to fill out the IDF. However, all of the inventors should review the IDF for accuracy and to be sure it has plenty of details on the innovation.

Fields in an Invention Disclosure form – What to include?

There are many variations of IDFs. Some are short while others are lengthy with many more questions. This diversity reflects the broad spectrum of innovation types that organizations engage in, necessitating different information for each form. The reason why different IDFs request different information lies in the preferences of different organizations. Presented below is a master list of fields commonly included in IDFs and the reasons behind them. In designing your IDF, choose the fields that best suit your preferences after reviewing this article. 

Tip: The various fields in an invention disclosure form must be carefully chosen based on their purpose.

Common Fields in an Invention Disclosure Form and Their Purpose

For easier understanding I have categorised the fields in an invention disclosure form into following:

  1. Invention Details
  2. Disclosure/Publication of the Invention
  3. Product/Commercialization
  4. Market Information
  5. Collaborators
  6. Miscellaneous

Also checkout: Filled Invention Disclosure Form Sample!

Invention Details

Invention Details | Fields in an Invention Disclosure Form

Title

The IDF needs a title to differentiate it from other submitted IDFs. The title should be descriptive enough to identify the nature of the invention. Identifying the right idea management tool can significantly aid in crafting effective titles and descriptions for IDFs. Also, aim for conciseness. For example, “Method and Apparatus for Signal Interference Processing.” Or, “Prokaryotic-Eukaryotic Hybrid Viral Vector.”

Field or Area of the Invention

Patent law is specialized by technology area. Therefore, this field can be used to sort IDFs by field, which could include the product name, business area and/or technology area.


Patents typically start with a statement describing the field of art to which the invention pertains. The patent attorney will ultimately determine the best way to describe the field or area of the invention. However, input from the inventor can be useful. 

List of Inventors

Nearly all IDFs request a list of inventors. However, it is important to note that inventorship is a legal determination. Accordingly, some IDFs will instead request a list of “contributors” or the like instead of “inventors.” The goal is to list people who have actively participated in developing the invention. If the organization decides to file a patent application, the actual inventorship will be legally determined by the patent prosecutor. 

The consequences for failing to get the list of inventors correct are dire. A patent can be invalidated for either including someone as an inventor who did not legally qualify or failing to list someone who did.

State of the Art

When a patent application is examined, the claimed invention is assessed in terms of whether it is novel and non-obvious. Prior art is any published information relevant to assessing your patent before the filing date of the patent application. Examples of the prior art include research publications, patents, marketing materials, and presentations at scientific conferences. 

It is assumed that inventors are familiar with other work going on in their field in relation to their invention. Therefore, IDFs will often request any prior art that the inventors are aware of. Inventors should identify anything that could potentially be relevant to the novelty and/or obviousness of the invention. 

There is no duty for the inventor to conduct a literature search. However, if an inventor has done so and is aware of relevant prior art then it must be disclosed to the USPTO. 

Detailed Description of the Invention

This section might also ask for a summary, the problem solved by the invention, and/or the advantages of the invention.  Often this is the longest part of the IDF with the most technical detail.

This section should take the most time. Important elements include stating the challenge or problem to be solved, describing the invention’s physical / technical features, describing how the invention is made, and explaining how it works. Accentuate how the invention is different from the prior art.

Any alternative approaches in the prior art that solve the same problem can also be discussed, along with explanations for why they do or don’t work. Other elements to include are ways the invention is more advanced and technologically sound when compared to the alternatives. 

Any terms that readers may be unfamiliar with should be defined. Include any test data and relevant findings that demonstrate the effectiveness of your invention. Any graphs and drawings that have been created should be included. Significant findings should be called out and their importance explained.

Alternate Embodiments

In a patent application, it is advantageous to describe any alternative embodiments, even if they are not currently of commercial interest. It is not uncommon to focus on the preferred solution while discounting others.  Including such alternative embodiments can prevent others from securing a patent on similar, yet distinct, variations of the invention that you already thought of. The description of alternative embodiments will become prior art against the patent applications of competitors. This can block those competing alternatives to the invention from entering the marketplace.

Furthermore, the inventor may consider certain embodiments to be less desirable now, but this could change in the future. By including alternative embodiments in the specification, the option of claiming these embodiments later is preserved.

Tags/Keywords for the Invention

Tags or keywords are sometimes used by organizations to filter and find invention disclosures within their databases. Underlying technologies, product lines, product names, or any other descriptors that are common in your enterprise.  For example, innovation managers may wish to find all invention disclosures related to the tag “blockchain” and adding that will save grief when later searching and sorting the portfolio.

Also Read – 7 Surefire Ways to Get More Invention Disclosures!

Disclosure/Publication of the Invention

Variations of this field include: 

  • Have you described or shown your invention to anyone (within the organization, other than the inventors)?
  • Has a verbal or written description been given to a person outside of the company? 
    • If yes, to whom?
    • If yes, was the person under any requirement to keep the information confidential or secret (e.g. NDA)?
  • Have you described or do you propose to describe the invention in a technical paper or other printed publication, in marketing material, or in any other form of media, including the Internet?

Public disclosure of the invention has serious implications for some jurisdictions. Examples of public disclosures are the publication of a research paper or the presentation at a scientific conference. In most countries around the world, any public disclosure before a patent application is filed is fatal to the patentability of the invention. Some countries provide grace periods in which applications can be filed up to 6 months or a year after such disclosures. Accordingly, it is critically important to know the dates of any public disclosures in order to determine what patent rights are still available.

Where a public disclosure has occurred, the inventors should provide copies of any materials relevant to the disclosure. These can include manuscripts, handouts, posters, electronic presentations, and slides. In some cases, what seems like a public disclosure does not actually qualify as one in light of the claiming strategy in the patent application. This is because the invention in the publication was not described in a way that would enable someone who works in the field to make or use the invention. Providing these materials allows the patent attorney to make a determination regarding their impact.

Providing an anticipated disclosure date also provides a timeframe for determining whether to pursue patent protection and for preparing and filing a patent application. 

Product/Commercialization

Commercialisation Related Information in an Invention Disclosure Form

Variations of this field include: 

  • Have any attempts been made to commercialize or sell the invention (e.g., have you approached any outsiders about purchasing or manufacturing the invention) or otherwise offered it for sale?
  • Have you used the invention already publicly, manufactured or designed it into a product or do you plan to use the invention in commerce?

Any offer to sell the invention before a patent application has been filed has enormous implications. In many countries, the sale of an invention prior to filing a patent application precludes the ability to obtain a patent. However, some countries offer a grace period. For example, the US allows an inventor up to a year, after the commercial activity has started, to file a patent application around an invention.

Note that an offer for sale is sufficient to constitute commercial activity – no actual sale needs to have occurred.

Market Information

Market Information | Example - Foreign Patent Filings

Variations of this field include:

  • Market information for innovation to either sell or increase sales of an existing product
  • Additional margin or profit for offering a product or service with the invention exclusively protected by patents
  • Contacts to confidentially learn about market potential
  • Please indicate any foreign markets in which you would suggest that a patent application should be filed and why
  • Who are the major competitors and what products do they offer
  • Provide names of possible licensees, if any monetization is contemplated

It is assumed that inventors are familiar with other work going on in their field in relation to their invention. IDFs may therefore often request information about domestic and international markets for the invention. IDFs may also request information about potential licensees. This information also helps identify potential competitors and prior art.

Collaborators

Collaborators

Variations of this field include:

  • Manager email / phone number
  • Prosecutor email / phone number
  • Law firm / attorney

It is critical that the IDF include complete contact information for each individual listed. Decision-makers and patent attorneys need to be able to get in touch with relevant individuals to ask questions and/or clarify issues.

Additional Details/To Be Filled By Managers

Variations of this field include:

  • Value or ranking
  • Tracking or docket number
  • Patentability score (i.e., likelihood of a patent issuing)
  • Filing Deadline with any explanation of what is triggering that deadline

Like many forms, some fields are not for those filling out the forms. Some IDFs undergo internal review. As part of that process, IDFs may get assigned a value based on factors such as the invention’s usefulness, commercial potential, and/or how it aligns with the organization’s business and policies. Tracking / docket numbers may also be assigned. IDFs may also be assigned to a specific outside law firm to assist with the patenting process. Notations regarding such designations are sometimes marked in IDF fields for internal use only. The filing deadline is often driven by a public disclosure or offer for sale and when that would push the innovation into the public domain.

Assignment to Confirm Ownership by Enterprise

Some IDFs may also include assignment provisions, which largely confirm your ownership that your enterprise already secured. An assignment is the transfer of legal title to an invention and may be required by the patent office. Co-owners of a patent can separately practice an invention or license it without the other co-owner’s permission so control should be in a single entity. Obtaining a clear assignment of an invention is extremely important. Typically, inventors are asked to execute assignments at the time the patent application is filed again with a version suitable for recording at the patent office.

Miscellaneous

Future Research to Further Commercialization

Plans for the future development of the invention should be described in the IDF. This information can be valuable for determining whether to proceed with a patent application. It also allows the patent attorney to ensure that the patent application describes variations that include inventors’ future plans. 

Sources of Funding and Biological Material Deposits

It is very important to know whether the invention has been funded by an entity other than the inventors’ employer. Such sponsorship may have implications for ownership/licensing rights and reporting obligations. This applies whether external funding of the invention was in whole or in part.

For some inventions, a sample of biological material must be deposited with a public repository to satisfy statutory requirements for patentability. For example, has any biological material relating to the invention been deposited in a public repository such as the ATCC, EMBL, or Jackson Lab? 

Third-Party Code in Software

If a software invention incorporates third-party code, it raises ownership and licensing issues that must be addressed.  Open source software used in the code base can also have implications.

University / Lab Resources (With Details) Used in Invention

Sometimes the ownership of an invention depends on whether the invention was made using an organization’s funds, resources, or facilities. Many government labs and universities require submitting all innovations to their technology transfer department to decide if the innovation is of interest to them and within the scope of your employment.   

On a side note: Would you want to know how your patent application is progressing at the USPTO compared to other applications in the same domain? 

The TIP tool offers statistics of the law firm and the examiner handling your case. Once the application is filed at the USPTO, and an examiner is allotted to your case, the tool indicates the relative performance of the law firm handling your case. The statistics revolve around the number of arguments, grant rate, and grant time. The tool also indicates the case health, for instance, it can tell you if a case needs your attention. There is a whole bunch of insights that you can gather from the TIP tool for strategic patent prosecution.

Request insights for any of your cases at the patent office using the form below.

Also read about the top 5 invention disclosure software options to choose the best for your enterprise.

Conclusion

An IDF is a business record that helps organizations decide whether to invest in an idea’s patent protection. It also helps patent practitioners prepare patent applications. Filling out an IDF can seem intimidating to inventors if it’s long and complex. To make sure inventors engage with your invention disclosure process you must choose a suitable IDF template or put the suitable fields in an invention disclosure form.

At Triangle IP, we have designed a simple and engaging invention disclosure form. Here is how it looks:

Invention Disclosure Form Template

The best part is this electronic invention disclosure form shall soon be readable back in the tool. And, the online invention disclosure form already exists within Triangle IP innovation management software.

Quick Update: The inventors can upload this offline form back into the TIP Tool to have all their ideas in one place.

Note: The preceding is general business advice and not to be construed as legal advice. IP laws vary by country and retaining licensed legal counsel is advised to confirm this information. Any expressed or implied opinions are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Triangle IP or any other entity who might be associated with the presenter. We hope this content is helpful to you, but should not be relied upon without confirming the advice and accuracy with local legal counsel. Any comments or inquiries are not confidential so please discuss your issues directly with counsel.

5 Ways To Get Effective Invention Disclosures from Your R&D Team

Getting effective invention disclosures is a challenge if your inventors don’t engage with the innovation capture process. As an innovation manager, you need to fill the innovation funnel with potentially patentable ideas. The key to this lies in the details of structuring a comprehensive invention disclosure form to capture the essence of each innovation.

So, what do you do?

Let’s explore what makes an effective invention disclosure and how you can get enough of those! 

Effective Invention Disclosure:

An effective invention disclosure captures the novelty, advantages, and utility of the invention. It has to be explained well enough such that those who approve patent filings can understand the invention and how it is strategic to the enterprise. To put it simply, an ideal invention disclosure clearly and precisely describes:

  • The problem that the idea solves
  • How the idea solves the problem
  • How the invention operates
  • The enhanced features in comparison to existing alternatives

How to Make Sure You Get Effective Invention Disclosures?

Here are five ways to improve the quality of the invention disclosures at your organization:

  1. Inventor-focused education 
  2. Walk it through – contextualization 
  3. Timely assistance
  4. Example invention disclosures
  5. Two-way communication between the inventor(s) and innovation manager
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#1. Training And Education

It takes training to obtain effective invention disclosures. Education should be inventor-focused. Explain the patent program and the invention disclosure form to your inventors. Incorporating innovation management software can streamline this educational process, making it easier for inventors to understand and engage with the patent program. Provide insight into how the patent process works. Such an exercise increases engagement. 

Conduct the training at regular intervals including at new employee orientation to keep everyone updated with the patent policy of the organization. Create guidelines for filling the invention disclosure form to demystify what is needed.

An effective invention disclosure requires a summary of the invention while highlighting its unique features. Also, encourage the inventors to attach detailed documents and drawings to provide an excellent description. Graphic representation leads to better understanding. It should quickly identify the problem, solution, and enhanced features compared to the conventional solutions. The inventors need to explain how the invention works and the value of pursuing a patent.

#2. Walk It Through

Contextualization is key. Apart from training and educating the inventors on filling the invention disclosure forms, you need to explain why it is essential. A strong understanding of these factors plays a significant role in strengthening your patent portfolio through effective disclosures. The inventors need to understand that the invention disclosure is part of a larger process crucial to the success of the enterprise.

Good quality invention disclosures help to:

  • Explain the new innovation
  • Simplify the evaluation process of patentability of the invention
  • Emphasize the chances at successful commercialization
  • Speed up the process by including all essential information

When the inventors understand the motivation behind good quality disclosures, they will be keener to write them better.  The better the innovation disclosure, the more likely that their idea is approved for patenting.

Tips for Effective Invention Disclosure: Explain why Invention Disclosure is essential

#3. Timely Assistance

Ensuring quick assistance when there is any confusion will speed capture by innovators. . In this context, the role of a skilled patent attorney in guiding the inventors becomes indispensable for effective invention disclosures. Often the inventors struggle with completing invention disclosures as they are not used to framing their contribution in the way. Make sure the inventors know where to seek help when they need it. Your organization can either appoint in-house personnel or outsource the task to IP professionals such as the patent attorney who drafts your patents. Establishing a good working relationship between the inventor and patent attorney will give the inventors insight into the essentials requirements for the invention capture.

Tips for Effective Invention Disclosure: Ensuring quick and timely assistance

#4. Examples

Provide the inventors and R&D staff with sample invention disclosures, where patents have been obtained successfully. To further this practice, understanding how to generate more invention disclosures with high quality is essential for capturing innovative ideas effectively. If the corresponding product  is well known in the enterprise, that always helps.  Keep the invention disclosure form brief and straightforward, capturing only the necessary information. Allow them to include detailed documentation for the invention and drawings separately.

At Triangle IP, we have created a simple, engaging, and customizable invention disclosure form (IDF), which is downloadable in both excel and word formats. Long and complex IDFs often discourage the inventors from filing invention disclosures. A well-written sample invention disclosure can be the yardstick for future disclosures to ensure high quality. 

Tips for Effective Invention Disclosure: Providing staff with sample invention disclosures

Must explore the top 5 invention disclosure software options to choose the best for your R&D Team.

#5. Two Way Communication

Try to understand the reasons behind low-quality invention disclosures in your enterprise. Address the issues of the inventors to tailor the process to how they are accustomed to doing things. Keep the channel of communication open between inventors and innovation managers with transparency in the process. It allows them to understand each other’s perspectives and how innovation progresses through the process. There has to be clarity about the expectations from the inventors with visibility as their ideas mature into patents. The innovation managers should also be aware of the enablers and blockers of invention disclosure to capture more innovation. The invention disclosure process has to be two-way communication.

Tips for Effective Invention Disclosure: Two Way Communication

On a side note: Would you want to know how your patent application is progressing at the USPTO compared to other applications in the same domain? 

The TIP tool offers statistics of the law firm and the examiner handling your case. Once the application is filed at the USPTO, and an examiner is allotted to your case, the tool indicates the relative performance of the law firm handling your case. The statistics revolve around the number of arguments, grant rate, and grant time. The tool also indicates the case health, for instance, it can tell you if a case needs your attention. There is a whole bunch of insights that you can gather from the TIP tool for strategic patent prosecution.

Request insights for any of your cases at the patent office using the form below.

Takeaway:

The better the invention disclosure, the easier it is for the innovation manager to push it through to a patent. The more information you can get into the process, the easier it is to evaluate and draft the patent application. The quality of the input data determines the quality of the output.

An effective invention disclosure should:

  • Provide a solid background and characteristics of the invention 
  • Contain proper technical description, which is the heart of invention disclosure
  • Explain the key terms and jargon
  • Include a list of any known relevant prior art and how the invention is different
  • Be reviewer-friendly so the value to the enterprise is clear
  • Include diagrams or other pre-existing documentation

Note: The preceding is general business advice and not to be construed as legal advice. IP laws vary by country and retaining licensed legal counsel is advised to confirm this information. Any expressed or implied opinions are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Triangle IP or any other entity who might be associated with the presenter. We hope this content is helpful to you, but should not be relied upon without confirming the advice and accuracy with local legal counsel. Any comments or inquiries are not confidential so please discuss your issues directly with counsel.

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Inventor Bonus Programs | Make or Break Patent Pipeline

Inventor Bonus Programs and Patent Pipelines

About 15 years ago I was an outside patent counsel for a company. The company had tasked me with the job to increase the number of invention disclosures submitted from a particular division. I conducted a seminar for employees about the patenting process and its importance to the company. After the seminar I met with several scientists who were identified as particularly creative, and the most likely to have new inventions to document.

The first thing one of those scientists said to me in our meeting was, “Patents are at the absolute bottom of my priority list.

In spite of the fact that this was a Fortune 500 company, this company’s policies provided employees with very little incentive to engage in the patent process. An employee’s patenting activity was barely acknowledged during annual reviews. And if an employee ended up listed as an inventor on an issued patent; guess what they got? All they received was a plaque and an invitation to a dinner held for all the company’s inventors for that year.

As that scientist bluntly stated to me, “Listen, you seem like a nice enough guy. But given everything I have on my plate, working with you is not worth my time.”   

Inventor Bonus Programs

Companies have realized the need to do more to encourage participation in the long and time-consuming process of pursuing a patent on their innovation. Inventor bonus programs are designed to provide that incentive. 

Two of the main goals of inventor bonus programs are:

  • to encourage innovation
  • to incentivize engagement in the patenting process 

They do this primarily by providing cash bonuses for each act of engagement in the patent process. An employee might be eligible for different bonus amounts based on certain milestones. Milestones could be such as submitting an invention idea, the approval and filing of a patent application, and the issuance of a patent.

The amount awarded for different milestones and qualifying criteria for those milestones can vary widely. Some companies do not award a bonus for invention submission. While, some require approval of submissions before qualifying for any award. This is to avoid non-strategic invention disclosure submissions to rack-up bonus payments.

Companies also can modify the amounts awarded for different milestones as part of a strategy to use incentive programs. This shall be helpful to drive certain desired outcomes. For example, if the company is not receiving enough invention disclosures, they may want to increase the inventor bonus amounts for submissions. Conversely, if the company is being flooded with invention disclosures, they may want to decrease the bonus amounts for submissions.  

In addition to providing an inventor bonus program, many companies ask about participation in their annual review. Discussing an employee’s patenting efforts demonstrates that such work is a valued and integral part of their job.

It is worth noting that any inventor bonus program incurs administrative burden to determine who is rewarded.  The mechanics of distributing the additional pay is not without complexity.  The prospect of a bonus for employees can also cause disputes on who should or should not be listed as an inventor to ripen the reward.

Companies That Don’t Use Inventor Bonus Programs

Like the company I described above from 15 years ago, some companies are still “all stick and no carrot” when it comes to trying to engage their employees in their patent program. These companies consider inventing to be part of an employee’s job duties and despise special bonus programs. It’s like a scene from the T.V. show Mad Men in which the character Peggy confronts her boss Don about not giving her credit for an idea:

                                        Don: “It’s your job! I give you money, you give me ideas.”

                                        Peggy: “And you never say thank you.”

                                        Don: “THAT’S WHAT THE MONEY’S FOR!”

credits:giphy

For small startups with this attitude, the employee’s “reward” is thought to be the overall growth of the company along with their equity. Any monetary compensation aside from an employee’s salary would simply come from any stock or options the employee may hold. (if the value of stocks is increasing)

For large companies avoiding bonus programs, the employee’s “reward” is a positive annual review and getting to keep their job. This puts a different spin on the review process than the type of acknowledgement of employees’ extra efforts described above. Instead, in this context employees are required to explain how they engaged in the patent program (or not) to avoid potential negative review.

An employee in such an environment might view engagement with the patent process a burden or even not worth their time. As a result such companies lose out on many ideas, which could have strengthened their patent portfolio and hence their position in the market.

Conclusion

Inventor bonus programs incentivize employees to innovate and to engage in the patenting process. Companies can modify their incentive programs to drive certain desired outcomes, such as the number and quality of invention disclosures. In the absence of such programs, companies risk creating an environment where employees view engagement in their patent program as a burden and not worth their time and effort unless participation is emphasized in the review process. Socializing the importance of a patent portfolio will help in any event to create a culture of capturing the best innovation that will enhance the enterprises value.

Hope you enjoyed reading the article. As a ‘thank you’ token for reading this article, we offer you a simple and engaging invention disclosure.



Download IDF in Word Format



Download IDF in Excel Format

Note: The preceding is general business advice and not to be construed as legal advice. IP laws vary by country and retaining licensed legal counsel is advised to confirm this information. Any expressed or implied opinions are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Triangle IP or any other entity who might be associated with the presenter. We hope this content is helpful to you, but should not be relied upon without confirming the advice and accuracy with local legal counsel. Any comments or inquiries are not confidential so please discuss your issues directly with counsel.

Invention Disclosures | Enablers and Blockers

Do’s & Don’ts For Invention Disclosures

Not enough invention disclosures?

Your patent program may fall apart if your inventors are not submitting enough ideas to feed the pipeline toward patenting. The underlying reasons could be anything; from lack of inventor motivation to the process being confusing. Enhancing the patent program requires adopting strategic approaches, similar to those detailed in patent strategies for diverse company sizes.

The progression of an idea from the invention to the patenting needs to be a systematic process with steady and sustained flow through the various stages. It starts with invention disclosure or capture where you would need your inventors to disclose their new innovation.

Let’s do a deep dive into the first step—Invention Disclosure and how you can begin a successful patent program.  

The Invention Disclosure / Idea Capture Form

Simply said, an invention disclosure form (IDF) captures an invention and surrounding details with the intent of possibly patenting. Optimizing the IDF is critical, and understanding the necessary detail level in invention disclosures is key to this optimization.

Invention Disclosures | The Blockers

Ad-hoc Process

Many companies don’t have a set process for filling IDFs. Some companies use simple forms for invention disclosures, and others have an online equivalent. Tracking of the IDF workflow might use makeshift approaches such as spreadsheets. Sometimes the only process happens with emails. 

Each of these processes has one or the other drawback as listed below:

  1. Non-intuitive for inventors without easy collaboration
  2. Possibility of loss of data in transitions with little transparency
  3. Long and complex forms act as a friction intimidating innovators
  4. Lack of real time updates on the progress from idea to patent

To address these challenges, it’s essential to leverage patent analytics to enhance your decision-making in the patenting process.

The Reluctant Inventor

Inventors like to create, but their disinterest in long forms is a hurdle. Sometimes, the inventors are too busy with other priorities and other times they shy away from the lengthy process.

There is a possibility of lack of motivation too for inventors to fill the IDFs. Either they are not aware of the importance of patents or there is not sufficient incentive attached with the disclosure process.

Long and Complex Forms

Inventors do not receive instruction on the patent process in university and don’t understand what information should go into the requested form fields. Vague questions frequently create a practical barrier for the first-timers, and a busy inventor might lose interest quickly for a tedious form. Eventually, a lack of guidance to fill out the right information also hampers an inventor’s interest.

Lack of Recognition

Have you motivated your inventors enough to fill an IDF? Positive reinforcement helps.

Those who are less familiar with technical documentation and publishing papers are more reluctant to fill out long forms. Tracking who is submitting ideas into the process and providing positive feedback helps socialize the importance of the patent program.

Lack of Awareness

Often, inventors simply aren’t aware of the patenting process, and they don’t know the benefits of protecting their innovation. Even if companies have a patent training course for their employees, maybe it only happens once a year. Ideally, the awareness starts with hiring, during orientation and should be reinforced frequently.

Sometimes, inventors harbor false perceptions of patents from the wrong sources. Explaining the strategic reasons for the patent program helps socialize the importance to enterprise success. Most companies are loath to enforce their patents as that would scare away participation.  Explaining defensive patent portfolio strategies that discourage others from preemptively suing while enhancing shareholder value with intellectual asset creation are more easily embraced strategies.

Invention Disclosures | The Enablers

You must sufficiently motivate the inventors to avoid the loss of patentable ideas. The unprotected innovations are given to the public domain if a patent is not quickly filed.  Here are a few tips to encourage engagement with the patent process:

Culture Change & Awareness

Conduct regular training for the inventors and IP teams. Educating new employees about the benefits of invention capture and how the complete process can improve your IP portfolio. Explain the strategies for building a patent portfolio. These are great opportunities to also invite industry experts to speak in internal forums. Consider workshops around innovation to motivate people further.

Explain the process clearly and as interactively as possible. Make available an IP expert(s) that inventors can seek out for guidance.

Rewards & Recognition

Creators need the motivation to spend time engaging in the process. Offer a bonus at different stages along the way to getting a patent. In addition to monetary bonuses consider giving them other rewards such as, certificates, manager recognition, and a voice in internal newsletters.

Seek Only What’s Necessary

The process of capturing innovation from inventors should have minimum friction. Long and complex forms discourage engagement. Hence, in the first go, seek only the necessary information with the IDF. 

Title

The title should be a one-line concise description of the invention.

Email

The form should capture the inventor’s email address for follow-up. Contact information about any manager or prosecutor would be a plus.

Summary

The summary should be focused on the following three most important things:

  1. Technical problem the invention solves
  2. Scientific or technical solution – the invention itself
  3. Advantages over existing solutions to the subject problem

Attaching existing diagrams, presentations, and other documents that add clarity towards understanding the invention better.

Keeping all the above in mind, we have designed the idea capture form with a very simple and intuitive approach via the TIP tool (an innovation management software) at TriangleIP. 

The form limits necessary fields only to the invention title and inventor’s email. It also has a summary section where the inventor fills out the invention details in a problem-solution-benefits format. Don’t forget to tag your disclosure with keywords to make later searching and sorting easier.  The form further has few additional fields for subjective value, patentability estimate and any filing deadline.  Attach any file that provides more detail on your invention such as white papers, presentations, recordings, videos, etc. .

Here is another good read for you – “7 surefire ways to get more invention disclosures“.

On a side note: Would you want to know how your patent application is progressing at the USPTO compared to other applications in the same domain? 

The TIP tool offers statistics of the law firm and the examiner handling your case. Once the application is filed at the USPTO, and an examiner is allotted to your case, the tool indicates the relative performance of the law firm handling your case. The statistics revolve around the number of arguments, grant rate, and grant time. The tool also indicates the case health, for instance, it can tell you if a case needs your attention. There is a whole bunch of insights that you can gather from the TIP tool for strategic patent prosecution.

Request insights for any of your cases at the patent office using the form below.

Wrapping Up The Do’s & Don’ts For Invention Disclosures

The first step to creating a successful patent program is to set up a systematic process to capture ideas and manage their journey to patent protection. Invention disclosures are the beginning point in this program. Encourage your inventors to fill the disclosures by:

  • Keeping the process intuitive
  • Incentivizing the process of writing and submitting disclosures
  • Training the inventors on the importance of IP
  • Creating a culture of innovation that seeks to produce regularly
  • Simplifying and socializing the innovation management process

With these tips, we hope your inventors fill your capture program with an abundance of IDFs to feed your patent program.

Beyond the use of the downloadable IDF form we provided above, the TIP tool by Triangle IP can help you manage your patent program with it’s simple workflow and drag-and-drop features. Additionally, the tool is soon going to offer various analytics that can enhance patenting decision-making. Definitely give it a try! 

Note: The preceding is general business advice and not to be construed as legal advice. IP laws vary by country and retaining licensed legal counsel is advised to confirm this information. Any expressed or implied opinions are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Triangle IP or any other entity who might be associated with the presenter. We hope this content is helpful to you, but should not be relied upon without confirming the advice and accuracy with local legal counsel. Any comments or inquiries are not confidential so please discuss your issues directly with counsel.

TIP Tool is free for your whole team

No credit card required. No setup fees. No need to download.


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7 Surefire Ways To Get More Invention Disclosures

7 Ways to Get More Invention Disclosures

“Getting more invention disclosures is an uphill task since inventors and paperwork usually do not go together very well.”

If your organization is not able to get enough invention disclosures from your inventors, you are not alone. To overcome this challenge, it’s essential to employ smart patent filing strategies that streamline the process for inventors. People are not eager to engage with things they do not understand. Long, complex forms are just that kind of thing. Inventors are busy people. Their main job is innovation and development, not paperwork.

Inventors often completely forget to report their inventions for patenting because of their busy schedules. Sometimes, they think that the invention is too obvious and they don’t report it at all. As a result,  the innovation managers may lose potentially patentable ideas.

The first step is to get inventors to capture more innovation using an invention disclosure form. Furthermore, when inventors fail to submit invention disclosures in a timely manner,  it leads to the patenting process being rushed. All too often enterprises approach me just before the launch date, seeking help for patent protection at the eleventh hour. However, as discussed below, there are ways to solve this problem.

More Invention Disclosures

Here are 7 ways you can get inventors to submit more invention disclosures:

  1. Training inventors on the importance of IP to socialize the process
  2. Keeping the invention capture process simple and understandable
  3. Ensuring the availability of IP experts in-house or from outside on a contractual basis
  4. Formulating a patent incentive program that encourages inventor involvement throughout the entire process
  5. Making participation in the IP program part of the inventor’s job description
  6. Evangelizing of the patent program from the executive level down
  7. Making the creation of IP a core part of the organisation’s culture

#1 – Training and Socialization

Training and educating about the importance of idea capture and the ways to fill the invention disclosure form (IDF) efficiently is essential. Alongside these measures, having a skilled patent attorney on board can simplify the patenting process, making it more accessible for inventors. An IDF helps your organisation begin the process to decide which inventions are patentable and worth pursuit. The information in the IDF also documents information that will help evaluation and drafting of a patent application. 

Conduct interactive sessions with the inventors to explain the invention disclosure and patent process. Also, your organisation can circulate samples of properly filled forms where the patents have been granted successfully. Consider publishing guidelines for filling out the form or recording training for all new hires to understand the innovation program.

#2 – Simple & Engaging Process

As stated above, people do not engage with intimidating things they do not understand. To enhance engagement, incorporating latest innovations in the IP domain into the IDF process can be highly effective. The process for filling out an IDF needs to be simple and avoid unnecessary complexity. It has to allow the inventors to gather their thoughts about the invention and express them easily. 

One of the ways to increase engagement with the disclosure process is by having online disclosure forms. Electronic forms can be reactive and adaptive depending on the answers.  It also can provide helpful tips and allow collaboration with all parties involved.

Whether the IDF is online or not, it should aim to document only the necessary information to initiate the process. Invention disclosure mainly requires the inventor to accurately describe the technologic  problem and solution along with advantages of their invention over prior solutions. To avoid intimidation, the disclosure form needs to be as short as possible with simple language. The key elements of an intuitive and inventor friendly IDF are:

  • Title of the invention
  • Inventor’s contact information
  • Summary of the idea / invention including: 
    • The problem that prompted the creation of the invention
    • The solution provided by the invention
    • The novel and/or enhanced features in comparison to previous similar inventions
  • Detailed diagrams, flow charts, drawings etc. explaining the working of the invention are great too
  • Attaching any pre-existing documentation will help

Ask your inventors to answer these basic questions in order to make the drafting of comprehensive patent specifications easier. Proper invention disclosure will ensure a hassle free patent prosecution process. 

At Triangle IP we have created a simple Invention Disclosure Form, which we also call an Idea Capture Form. It skips the complex questions that need answers at later stages of the patent prosecution process. There is also the option of adding tags, which can be helpful later to filter ideas.

Triangle IP Idea form / invention disclosure form
The Idea Form At TriangleIP

If you wish you can download the idea from using the form below:

#3 – Availability of IP Experts

Your organisation can also explore the possibility of employing in-house Intellectual Property (IP) professionals who can help the inventors with the process. If employing a full or part-time in-house IP professional is not possible, then you should identify and engage outside IP professionals.  There are consultants, patent agents and patent attorneys who are well versed in the innovation capture process. Conducting seminars with the help of IP experts once or twice a year can be beneficial too. 

#4 – Incentive Programs

When there is a lack of incentives to participate in the patenting process, inventors do not feel the need to pay as much attention to filling out IDFs. Encourage the proper disclosure of inventions by providing inventors with varying monetary incentives at different stages. These programs vary in their incentive while paying for engagement through the patent process. For example, award incentives at the following stages of the process:

  • Upon submitting the IDF
  • When the invention is selected for patenting 
  • At the time of filing the patent application
  • Upon grant of the patent(s)
  • After the inflow of revenue from the invention
Incentive program for inventors to motivate them to submit more invention disclosures

#5 – Participation in the IP Program.

At the time of hiring engineers, software developers, scientists, and other innovators, your organisation should set clear expectations for them to participate in the patent program. Include a specific question regarding employee’s contributions to the company’s patent program in any self-evaluation / annual review. This encourages participating and eventually submitting more disclosures. 

Explore-Simulated-Version-of-TIP-Tool

#6 – Evangelists for Patent Programs

The top management of your organization should remind employees of the importance of the patent program. They should encourage inventors to submit an IDF as soon as an idea is conceived. Management endorsement and reminders assure the patent program will succeed. This priority will spread to the rest of the employees at the company. Without buy-in from top management, a patent program cannot be successfully implemented in your organisation.

On a side note: Would you want to know how your patent application is progressing at the USPTO compared to other applications in the same domain? 

The TIP tool offers statistics of the law firm and the examiner handling your case. Once the application is filed at the USPTO, and an examiner is allotted to your case, the tool indicates the relative performance of the law firm handling your case. The statistics revolve around the number of arguments, grant rate, and grant time. The tool also indicates the case health, for instance, it can tell you if a case needs your attention. There is a whole bunch of insights that you can gather from the TIP tool for strategic patent prosecution.

Request insights for any of your cases at the patent office using the form below.

#7 – Innovation-Driven Culture

Your organisation should make the process of invention disclosure and patent prosecution worth the inventor’s while. Implementing an employee innovation program can significantly boost inventor engagement and participation in the patent process. Your patent program should not be a burden on the inventor. IP awareness and protection should be a cultural thing, which is structured properly and decorated in its policies. Integrating IP strategy into your business policies fosters innovation, for example, the employee handbook. An effective patent program will properly protect your innovation.

Download this short, simple yet powerful Invention Disclosure Form to help you with your disclosure process

Conclusion

A simple and engaging invention disclosure process with the right training and motivation for inventors will help your organisation to:

  • Capture more invention disclosures
  • Decrease innovation that never gets documented
  • Expedite the process of filing patent applications
  • Documents innovation with knowledge capture
  • Provide your company with all the benefits of patent protection

Create a culture in your organisation where inventors understand the importance of patents and are enthusiastic about the process. To get more invention disclosures, train inventors to accurately fill out the IDF while socializing the program. A proper capture process helps identify all the ideas which can be transformed into patentable inventions. 

The IDF needs to be simple and engaging. At Triangle IP (TIP) we have created an intuitive drag-and-drop innovation capture tool to take control of the patent mining process while encouraging collaboration. Using the TIP innovation management tool will maximize innovation capture at your organization.

7 surefire ways to get more invention disclosures

TIP Tool is free for your whole team

No credit card required. No setup fees. No need to download.


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