Patent Policy

Overview

For the following, we define an invention as an innovation that the employee or the institution thinks might be patentable. See the IP Primer for a brief description of what might be patentable.

The IMD and OAR relate primarily to inventions or technological improvements. IMD 6.210 further defines these as new and useful processes, machines, devices, manufacture, the composition of matter, or improvements to any of them.

Our guidelines are:

PSU requires that all employee work-related inventions be assigned to PSU.

PSU employees have a responsibility to disclose to IIP any inventions they make.

PSU will provide a proactive waiver of ownership for non-work related inventions, but these must first be disclosed to IIP and go through the waiver process.

PSU may waive work-related inventions, but these must first be disclosed to IIP and go through the waiver process.

PSU will, in consultation with inventors, make PSU-owned inventions available to industry and the public in an effective and non-discriminatory manner, obtain reasonable royalties for use in furthering institutional education and research objectives, and reward inventors through participation in net royalty income received.