From: Ed Lazowska
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:28 PM
To: faculty - Mailing List
Subject: Disclosure requirements

Nobody reads the faculty code -- and with good reason.  But here's one small
piece of it of which you should be aware:

We have an obligation to disclose to UW any "innovation" with potential
commercial value.  And this includes innovations that are conceived
"privately" without use of UW or Federal resources.

In the case of Digital Ventures, the part of UW Tech Transfer with which
we deal, they like to begin with a face-to-face discussion rather than
filling out a stupid form, which works well.

The outcome of such a disclosure can span a broad range, from "UW files
a patent and seeks a licensee" to "UW writes you a letter affirming that
UW has no interest in and/or no ownership of the innovation."

There should be no news here -- this same information has been posted
on our commercialization web since early 2001.  But it's time for a
reminder.

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From the UW Handbook, Vol 4, part V, Chapter 7
(http://www.washington.edu/faculty/facsenate/handbook/Volume4.html):
Section 1. Patent and Invention Policy - paragraphs A,B,C -

--excerpting--

Paragraph A:   This policy covers both patented and nonpatented
innovations, including computer software with commercial value, and is
applicable to all faculty, staff, and students.

Paragraph B:  Inventions shall be promptly reported to the
University's Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer
and all concerned shall cooperate to assure prompt initiation of
appropriate technology transfer actions. The term "invention" means
any invention or discovery which is or may be patentable or otherwise
protectable as to ownership.

Paragraph C: University employees shall report all inventions and
discoveries to the University's Office of Intellectual Property and
Technology Transfer. ...

Although all inventions and discoveries must be reported to the Office
of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, there are instances
when the University may choose not to assert ownership. ...

=====

The university policy distinguishes between disclosure and assignment
-- disclose all, assign those in which UW has an interest.