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| Navigating the Tech Transfer Maze June 2002 Although many important projects are under way at MITRE, no idea or invention is too small to warrant proprietary protections or to consider for dissemination to a wider audience. Understanding the technology transfer process will make this easier. As MITRE seeks to OFFER its technology and expertise to larger groups of potential users, the technology transfer process is becoming increasingly important. The potential rewards include a greater and more affordable range of technology for MITRE's government sponsors, more prestige for the company itself that may attract and retain top-notch technical talent, and when there is no possibility of damaging MITRE's objectivity, additional revenue for MITRE's research and public interest mission. But the process –which involves discussions with a number of experts concerning several options for protecting intellectual property and making it accessible to more users–may seem complex to MITRE employees who are "on the fence," unsure whether their work merits such measures. Gerard Eldering, director of MITRE's Technology Transfer Office, says experts in technology transfer and intellectual property protection can identify many opportunities for technology transfer that might not be immediately apparent. "A lot of people don't think that intellectual property protection applies to their own projects," said Eldering. "They shouldn't hesitate to bring their work to our Technology Transfer Office. Making these choices isn't as complicated as it might seem." Protecting Intellectual Property Intellectual property is defined as anything produced by the human intellect as intellectual property–an idea, an invention, an expression, a unique name, a process, a method, or a design–that has intrinsic value. The best way to protect it depends on the nature of the product or idea and the potential sensitivity of the information used. The inventor will be asked to fill out an Intellectual Property Disclosure Form (IPDF), which is the initial method for calling attention to a product or process that may justify patent protection. After the IPDF goes to the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), the next step is to determine the type of protection the intellectual property should receive. In most cases, the preferred mode of intellectual property protection is a patent. Patents allow MITRE to protect the government's right to use the technology and, by giving licensees protected commercial use rights, make technology transfer more feasible. An Intellectual Property Group (made up of the chief technology officer and the chief engineers and representatives of the TTO and the legal and contracts offices) will review a business case for the idea prepared by the TTO. MITRE may also consider seeking copyright protection for certain products or ideas. Copyrighting may be the preferred mode, for example, to protect a software application that brings together existing technology to perform a new function. Other forms of protection include seeking trademarks and service marks, which cover recognizable symbols, logos, or names, and seeking trade secret status, which, unlike patenting, would keep the product or idea out of the public domain. Making the Transfer Before any transfer takes place, an inventor should be prepared to explain what will be involved in transferring the technology and to discuss its features and its potential market. If the inventor gets the go-ahead, several transfer options are available. Each method of technology transfer has different virtues and potential drawbacks, and the circumstances surrounding each case help determine which method will work best. Some methods are easy to implement and, because they make the technology broadly available, do not compromise MITRE's reputation for objectivity. But the impact of the technology in each case is hard to gauge. For many other methods, the opposite is true. The impact of the transfer when working with other agencies or companies can be measured. But the process tends to be more complex and time consuming. Eldering believes there is now greater awareness of, and interest in, technology transfer at MITRE, as can be measured by several factors, including the increase in the number of new patent applications. Patent applications from MITRE employees once numbered only a handful, but there were 13 in all for 2001, and in January of this year, eight new applications were submitted. "We have close to 20 patents being applied for now, plus a lot of ideas coming in," said Eldering. "So that's a real tangible result." Related Information
Page last updated: June 18, 2002 | Top of page |
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