Patents

PatentsPatents

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Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

What is a PatentWhat is a Patent What can be PatentedWhat can be Patented 3 Questions you should ask yourself3 Questions you should ask yourself How to go about getting a Patent in How to go about getting a Patent in

IBMIBM Awards in IBMAwards in IBM Patents - IBM WorldwidePatents - IBM Worldwide My Invention DisclosuresMy Invention Disclosures

What is a PatentWhat is a Patent

PatentPatent• The right to The right to excludeexclude others from others from

making, using, or selling the making, using, or selling the inventioninvention

• Patents have a limited lifetimePatents have a limited lifetime

What can be What can be patentedpatented

• In general, most things can be patentedIn general, most things can be patented Mechanical structures, electrical circuits, Mechanical structures, electrical circuits,

chemical chemical

compounds, Methods (steps for carrying out compounds, Methods (steps for carrying out some processsome process

or function)or function)

• Some countries prohibit patents for Some countries prohibit patents for certain areas of subject mattercertain areas of subject matterMedicines ,Inventions harmful to public morals ,Medicines ,Inventions harmful to public morals ,

Humans/living things ,Laws of Humans/living things ,Laws of nature ,Mathematical algorithmsnature ,Mathematical algorithms

So you have an Idea So you have an Idea but you are not but you are not sure !!!!sure !!!! The 3 basic requirementsThe 3 basic requirements

• Useful/UtilityUseful/Utility• Novel/NewNovel/New• Inventive step/Creativity/UnobviousInventive step/Creativity/Unobvious

• ImplementableImplementable• DetectabilityDetectability

• RelatedRelated

Useful ??Useful ??

UsefulUseful• This usually isn’t much of a testThis usually isn’t much of a test

– The invention doesn’t have to work better The invention doesn’t have to work better than prior solutionsthan prior solutions

– The invention doesn’t have to be less The invention doesn’t have to be less expensive than prior solutionsexpensive than prior solutions

• It just has to be useful, in some wayIt just has to be useful, in some way

Novelty ??Novelty ??

Novelty/NewNovelty/New• Virtually every country has this Virtually every country has this

requirementrequirement

Inventive !!!!Inventive !!!!

• ““The invention must not be obvious to The invention must not be obvious to a person of average skill in the art”a person of average skill in the art”

• ““The invention must reflect an The invention must reflect an inventive step”inventive step”

• ““There must be some There must be some creativitycreativity required to arrive at the invention”required to arrive at the invention”

Automatic Device for the Automatic Device for the Protection of PedestriansProtection of Pedestrians

U.S. Patent No. 1,865,014 H. Karl June 28, 1932

Method of Scheduling Method of Scheduling MeetingsMeetings

U.S. Patent No. 4,626,836

Curtis et al.

Assignee: IBM

December 2, 1986

ClaimClaim

A A methodmethod of of scheduling a meeting scheduling a meeting using attendee using attendee calendars stored in a computer system, said calendars stored in a computer system, said method comprising:method comprising:

presenting a scheduler with a presenting a scheduler with a prompting screen prompting screen for for keying in prospective keying in prospective attendeesattendees and and desired date desired date range and time span range and time span for a meeting;for a meeting;

comparingcomparing in said computer system in said computer system said date range said date range and time span with said attendee calendars; andand time span with said attendee calendars; and

presenting an presenting an option screen option screen to said scheduler, to said scheduler, displaying available times displaying available times for selection of a for selection of a meeting time.meeting time.

How to go about getting a How to go about getting a Patent in IBMPatent in IBM

Worldwide Patent Tracking Worldwide Patent Tracking System - WPTSSystem - WPTS

Add the WPTS Icon on your Add the WPTS Icon on your DesktopDesktop

D20DB004

9.68.241.172

WPTS Main PageWPTS Main Page

New DisclosureNew Disclosure

Processing Location -Japan

Calculation of PVT Critical Questions

Functional Area - India Global Services

Owning Division - GS (Global Services).

Disclosure QuestionsDisclosure Questions

Describe your invention, stating the problem solved (if appropriate), and indicating the advantages of using the invention.

How does the invention solve the problem or achieve an advantage,(a description of "the invention", including figures inline as appropriate)?

If the same advantage or problem has been identified by others (inside/outside IBM), how have those others solved it and does your solution differ and why is it better?

AwardsAwards

Making an Invention Disclosure -Making an Invention Disclosure - First Time Filing of a Patent - $1500First Time Filing of a Patent - $1500 Subsequent Patent Filing - $750 Subsequent Patent Filing - $750

+ Framed Certificate and plus 3 plateau points per inventor + Framed Certificate and plus 3 plateau points per inventor

per filingper filing for reaching first plateau of 12 points - 1200 USD, plus for reaching first plateau of 12 points - 1200 USD, plus

framed certificate and IBM jewelryframed certificate and IBM jewelry at issuance of a patent - $ 500 USD plus framed certificateat issuance of a patent - $ 500 USD plus framed certificate Between $1000 and $4500 for patents selected based on Between $1000 and $4500 for patents selected based on

value to the corporation.value to the corporation. Portfolio Awards of unlimited size exist for patents used in Portfolio Awards of unlimited size exist for patents used in

license negotiations.license negotiations.

Patents in IBMPatents in IBM

IBMIBM

2886 Patents for IBM in 2000 (1999 + 130) 2886 Patents for IBM in 2000 (1999 + 130) 8th Consecutive year at #18th Consecutive year at #1 IBM Topped the next closest company by more IBM Topped the next closest company by more

than 850 patentsthan 850 patents IBM has nearly 34,000 patents in force worldwide, IBM has nearly 34,000 patents in force worldwide,

including 19,000 U.S. Patentsincluding 19,000 U.S. Patents IBM invests more than $5.5 billion in R&DIBM invests more than $5.5 billion in R&D There are 4000 IBM inventors from 24 CountriesThere are 4000 IBM inventors from 24 Countries IBM's total intellectual property portfolio IBM's total intellectual property portfolio

generated more than $1 billion in licensing generated more than $1 billion in licensing royalties in 2000.royalties in 2000.

Useful WebsitesUseful Websites

http://www.patents.ibm.com http://w3-7.ibm.com/think/

invented_here/ 1999/patent.html http://www.research.ibm.com/know/

top.html http://w3.jp.ibm.com/jaipd/index_e.htm

http://w3-2.ibm.com/hr/us/topics/

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