FREE online course

A Guide to Patents in Academia

Do you wish you knew more about patents and how to use them to your advantage?

Have you ever wondered whether you are making the most of your research results? Whether there are things you actively can do to help the patenting process or to positively influence patenting outcomes? Whether there are things you can do to optimize returns from your research?

If so, look no further.

The content of this course is uniquely tailored to common situations and problems that arise in an academic context.

The course will not only discuss how patents work — but it will also equip you with the practical tips and tools to use patents efficiently and in a way that allows you to successfully leverage your research results.

  • Patents

    Everything you need to know about patents. Discussions include invention disclosures, reading patents, prior art searches, international patent protection, intellectual property polices and ownership questions.

  • Plain English

    Content is presented in plain and simple English. Legal definitions, terminologies and references to statutes and judicial cases are avoided. Legal concepts are simplified.

  • Practical Content

    Content is tailored to the academic context and structured around practical questions and problems. Topics are informed by instructor's 10+ years of experience working with professors, researchers and students.

When is your invention inventive enough? Who qualifies as an inventor? How do you conduct a prior art search? How do you protect your invention abroad?

Course Content

Module 1: Is your invention patentable?

The essentials of patent protection: what is a patentable invention, what are the requirements to get protection, what cannot be protected and what does the patenting process look like.

Module 2: Addressing misconceptions

There are many misconceptions about patents, some of which may have problematic consequences. We will address 11 of the most common misconceptions related to how patents work, how patents can be obtained and what rights patents confer.

Module 3: Practical tips for your patenting journey

What can you do to positively influence the patenting process and outcome? This module will focus on practical things you can do to optimally describe your invention, place it in its larger context and strategies you can follow to not lose your right to a patent when you need to discuss your research with others.

Module 4: Managing your university research

Who owns what and why? When will you be an inventor and how is that different to being named as an author on a publication? We will consider the most important legal questions that relate to your inventive activities and discuss how you can optimally conduct your research with patents in mind.

It’s FREE!

Once registered, you’ll have access to 4.5 hours of videos.

Coming soon

A Guide to Copyrights in Academia — Are you curious about protecting your publications or creative works?