Agreements and Forms
Invention Disclosure Form
An Invention Disclosure Form is the first step in moving research from the lab to the marketplace.
An Invention Disclosure is an internal document used to describe an inventive idea or object, establish inventorship rights, and as a record of any disclosure of the invention to a third party. The Office of IP Development and Commercialization will use the Disclosure to determine the commercial potential and the patentability of the invention, and as a record of compliance with laws regarding federally funded research (Bayh-Dole Act). A Disclosure is considered Business Confidential information and generally will not be disclosed to persons outside the University without a need-to-know.
The inventor(s) should fill out a single Disclosure for each invention, answering all questions as completely as possible. The percent contribution of each inventor should be identifying, keeping in mind that inventors do not have to contribute equally to an invention. Describe the invention in sufficient detail so that someone reasonably skilled in the art would understand the nature of the invention. Questions, including draft Disclosures, as well as the completed Disclosures should be submitted to the Office of IP Development & Commercialization.
After review of the completed Disclosure and in conjunction with inventor interviews, the Office will evaluate the patentability (novelty, non-obviousness and utility) and the market potential of the invention. If deemed appropriate, the Office will engage with the inventor(s) to prepare a provisional patent application.
Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreements
An (Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality) Agreements (NDA/CDA) protect information owned by A&T faculty and their collaborators.
An NDA (or CDA) provides the basis for two or more parties to share confidential information with the understanding that the subject information will not be disclosed to anyone outside the agreement. This type of agreement is used to protect business information, inventions, technical data, designs, etc. that originates with one party (Disclosing Party) who desires to collaborate with another party (Receiving Party) to achieve some mutually beneficial goal. The NDA may be in the form of a one-way agreement in which only one party discloses confidential information, or a mutual agreement in which both parties may each disclose confidential information in their possession. The subject matter covered and duration of the agreement are typically defined as explicit terms in the NDA.
If using a University approved format of the NDA, it may be presented to an outside party without modification. If the NDA comes from an outside source, it must be reviewed, negotiated and approved. The process is managed by the Office of IP Development & Commercialization, which arranges execution by the university’s authorized signatory. Faculty do NOT have standing to execute NDA/CDA. Faculty will be asked to acknowledge their responsibilities under the agreement.
incoming confidential information
outgoing confidential information
mutual confindential information
Material Transfer Agreements
Material Transfer Agreements (MTA) protect A&T researchers bringing materials onto campus or sending materials off-campus.
MTA are used when materials are transferred to or received from a company or another university for further evaluation, research or development. An MTA provides a description of the material, an explicit chain-of-custody, and the conditions under which the material should be studied or used. No license for use other than as described in the document, or rights to intellectual property related to the material is transferred to the receiver.
If you are transferring University owned materials to an outside party, use the University approved MTA form. If you are receiving materials from an outside party, they will generally have their own MTA that needs to be reviewed, negotiated and approved. The process is managed by the Office of IP Development & Commercialization, which arranges execution by the university’s authorized signatory. Faculty do NOT have standing to execute NDA/CDA MTA. Faculty will be asked to acknowledge their responsibilities under the agreement.
