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The Technology Transfer Office at USF works with hundreds of researchers each year to help them protect their inventions through the patent process. The IP Management team works diligently with our outside counsel to facilitate and streamline this process.

Intellectual Property refers to creations of the mind—creative works or ideas embodied in a form that can be shared or can enable others to recreate, emulate, or manufacture them. In order to be patentable, an invention must be novel, useful and enabling. There are four ways to protect intellectual property: patents, trademarks, copyrights, or trade secrets.

PATENT
A patent is a property right granted by the Government of the United States of America to an inventor "to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States" for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted. In order to receive a patent, an invention must be considered novel and useful when relating to processes, machines, methods of manufacture, or compositions of matter.

Process of Obtaining a Utility Patent âžž

TRADEMARK
A trademark protects words, names, symbols, sounds, or colors that distinguish goods and services from those manufactured or sold by others and to indicate the source of the goods. Trademarks, unlike patents, can be renewed forever as long as they are being used in commerce.

COPYRIGHT
A copyright protects works of authorship, such as writings, music, and works of art that have been tangibly expressed. The Library of Congress registers copyrights which last for the life of the author plus 70 years.

TRADE SECRETS
Trade secrets refer to information that companies keep secret to give them an advantage over their competitors.

USF Technology Transfer works with researchers and students in every college to ready new inventions for the patenting process and potential licensing opportunities. This work allows for a sustained focus on transferring cutting-edge research and innovation to the commercial marketplace, generating revenue and diversifying the economy.

All university employees must disclose inventions or other works to the Technology Transfer Office according to USF Policy 0-300

Statement of Policy and Procedures for Inventions and Works - USF Policy 0-300 âžž

TTO encourages you to contact our office during your discovery process to ensure you are aware of the options that will best leverage the commercial potential of your research. Our staff members are trained to assist you with questions related to marketability, funding sources, commercial partners, patenting and other protection methods, new business start-up considerations, university policies and procedures, and much more. Our team approach is designed to help with every step along the way.

Learn more about intellectual property, inventorship, ownership and other considerations related to inventions that involve artificial intelligence and machine learning.

View AI/ML-Based FAQ âžž

Find questions to frequently asked questions about intellectual property, patents, agreements, invention ownership and working with USF Technology Transfer.

View Inventor FAQ âžž