INVENTION DISCLOSURE FORM

Invention Disclosure Form

This document, when completed, provides information in relation to new inventions that will assist your Attorney and other Intellectual Property professionals to understand the invention and the aspects of the invention for which patent rights should be sought.

This document serves to identify issues relating to ownership and commercialisation of the invention. This document, when completed, also serves to identify issues, which may require consideration in determining whether patent protection for the invention should, or should not, be sought.

Once completed and received by your Attorney, the information disclosed in this document will remain confidential and will only be disclosed as necessary in the normal course of business in pursuing patent rights and in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Guidelines of professional conduct of the Professional Standards Board for Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys.
Name: *
Email: *
Phone:
Date: / DD / MM YYYY
Completed By:
Independent Witness:

(For US purposes it is recommended that a person who understands the invention but is NOT an inventor corroborates this document by witnessing here as evidence of a date of invention)
Title:

(For US purposes it is recommended that a person who understands the invention but is NOT an inventor corroborates this document by witnessing here as evidence of a date of invention)
WHAT IS AN INVENTION?

As a general rule, an invention is a solution to a problem, which has a technical merit.
If the solution to the problem is new (you cannot find it completely disclosed in a single document) it is most likely, patentable.
If the solution has commercial importance (attractive to buyers, performance improvement, competitive alternative, addresses a long felt need in the relevant market), then patent protection should be considered.
OUTLINE REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION OF AN INVENTION DISCLOSURE
1. Commercial Area
Describe the technical field where the invention is made.
Give the invention a brief name or title.
2. BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
2.1 The Problem.
Describe the problem or previous difficulty/ies which was/were overcome by the invention.
2.2 Known solutions to problem.
Describe what attempts have been made in the past to overcome the problem.
AND/OR
Describe why in the past, the problem has not been solved or has had difficulty in being solved.
Describe advantages and disadvantages of previous attempts to overcome the problem.
Are you aware of patents or technical literature or journals, which discuss solving the same problem? Yes No
If so, give reference and describe them in detail and attach a copy if possible.
3.THE INVENTION
3.1 Description
Describe, in general, how you have now solved the problem.
Describe how your solution differs from previous attempts noted in above 2.2."Known Solutions to the Problem"
Describe, in your own words, the features of the invention, which you consider distinguish the invention from what was previously known. Please also clearly explain the practical advantages provided by those distinguishing features. Please list the distinguishing features in order of importance, as you see fit.
Please provide comprehensive drawings or sketches. With reference to the drawings, give a detailed description of your solution, and how it would be implemented in a practical application.

NOTE: The level of detail must be sufficient to enable someone with average skill in the relevant field to actually build the device/system or perform the method or process of the invention. For electronic aspects of the invention, please provide functional block diagrams of the hardware involved and circuit diagrams where necessary (circuit diagrams may only be relevant where the invention resides in the electronics per se), together with a full description of what is shown in those diagrams. Where the invention resides in new and innovative software, please provide block diagrams of any hardware involved, data flow diagrams where appropriate, logic flow charts of the software and screen prints of code where applicable, together with a full description of what is shown in those diagrams/flow charts.
3.2 Advantages.
Describe the advantages of your solution. Please include critical commercial aspects.
3.3 Concept.
Describe the principle or underlying concept that has led you to finding a solution to the problem.
Please list the features within your description at Section 3.1 that embody the essence of your solution to the problem. Please also include the resultant advantages.
3.4 Alternatives.
Describe in detail variations of your solution working as well as your solution described embody the concept of 3.3.
4. INVENTORS

Detail the full name, street address, nationality, employment status (eg. employee or consultant) and contribution of each inventor.

NOTE: In general, inventors either conceive the basic concept and/or design the features that embody the essence of the invention, as noted in Section 3.3. It is important to name ALL inventors, no matter how small their contribution to either conceiving of the invention or reducing the concept of the invention to practice. If necessary, identified inventors may have their details changed or even omitted in future, however, it is very difficult to add inventors at a later stage.
Name of Inventor 1:

NOTE: In general, inventors either conceive the basic concept and/or design the features that embody the essence of the invention, as noted in Section 3.3. It is important to name ALL inventors, no matter how small their contribution to either conceiving of the invention or reducing the concept of the invention to practice. If necessary, identified inventors may have their details changed or even omitted in future, however, it is very difficult to add inventors at a later stage.
Address of Inventor 1:
Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

Postal / Zip Code

Country
Nationality of Inventor 1:
Employment Status of Inventor 1:
Contribution of Inventor 1:
Name of Inventor 2:
Address of Inventor 2:
Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

Postal / Zip Code

Country
Nationality of Inventor 2:
Employment Status of Inventor 2:
Contribution of Inventor 2:
Name of Inventor 3:
Address of Inventor 3:
Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

Postal / Zip Code

Country
Nationality of Inventor 3:
Employment Status of Inventor 3:
Contribution of Inventor 3:
5. ABSTRACT
Provide a succinct summary of the invention in no more than 50 words.
6. OTHER ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
6.1 Ownership
List any Government, University or private agreements or grants under which the invention may have been conceived, developed or produced. Please provide details of any such agreements or grants.
6.2 Chronological Development
Provide a brief timeline of development of the invention. That is, please provide dates of when the invention was first conceived, when important modifications or improvements were conceived, when trials or experiments were performed.
6.3 Disclosures
Has the invention, or information about the invention, been publicly disclosed, submitted for publication, or presented at a seminar, conference or the like? Yes No
Has the invention, or information about the invention, been disclosed to any other party, eg. Industry collaborators, commercial partners or clients? Yes No
If so, please provide details of this disclosure, eg signed confidentiality agreements, NDA's(Non Disclosure Agreements) etc.
Please provide details of any publication, presentation, or release planned for the invention and include the relevant dates.
6.4 Commercialisation
Have there been any sales, or offers for sale, of the invention? Yes No
If so, please provide all details.
6.5 Disclosures
Does the invention involve or use technology that is licensed to/from a third party? Yes No
If so, please provide all details.
Is the invention the subject of any pending license agreement or negotiations? Yes No
If so, please provide all details.
Is the invention subject to any information disclosed to you by a third party under a confidentiality agreement? Yes No
If so, please provide all details.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS DOCUMENT

Invention Disclosure Form

Invention Disclosure Form

OUTLINE REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION OF AN INVENTION DISCLOSURE

2. BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

3.THE INVENTION

5. ABSTRACT

6. OTHER ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS DOCUMENT