Patent procedure

Being a university inventor pays off: The university gives its inventors a share of the income from patents and licenses. For the patenting and exploitation of inventions, the university works together with PROvendis, the service provider for intellectual property (IP) for 28 universities in NRW. On behalf of the university, PROvendis examines inventions and developments for patentability and exploitation possibilities, organizes the registration of IP rights and - in coordination with the university and you - takes over the marketing. The following is the procedure:

1. You have invented something new? Make sure it is new - premature publication, e.g. through publications, notices, posters, lectures, public reports, etc. jeopardizes the registration of property rights.
2. Contact the ZWT: Clarify the next steps, the procedure and the requirements for a successful application.
3. Send a formal invention disclosure to the university, also for joint inventions with third parties. If required, we will also be happy to send you the form.
4. The university's PatentScout will review the documents, clarify questions and the further procedure with you and, after checking, forward your invention disclosure to PROvendis for the further steps towards patenting.
5. PROvendis then examines the patentability of the invention and its prospects for exploitation, and makes a recommendation to the university.
6. If the prospects of success are good, the university will claim the invention in consultation with you. Otherwise, it will release the invention to you.
   By claiming your invention, the university commits itself to registering property rights and agrees with you on the further steps to be taken. The costs of the patent attorney and the official fees are then borne by the university. As a university inventor, you will receive a 30 percent share in the proceeds of a successful exploitation of the invention.
   If the university releases the invention, the inventor can apply for a patent at his own expense and risk and exploit it himself. He bears the costs, but also receives 100 percent of possible revenues.
7. After the university has made a claim, the application for protective rights is filed, i.e. together with specialized patent attorneys, the application is prepared and submitted. After filing, publications of all kinds are possible again.
8. Subsequently, PROvendis takes over the marketing, researches potential licensees or buyers and conducts exploitation negotiations on behalf. PROvendis also examines further exploitation possibilities through non-technical property rights.

 
Links to patent search

Worldwide patent search at the European Patent Office
Search at the German Patent and Trademark Office
Search at Google Patents
Search at the German Patent and Trademark Office