Intellectual Property Module 3: Invention Disclosure

This overview module defines intellectual property (IP) and the most common forms of IP protection used at PHAC. It introduces IP requirements for public servants, including maintaining Crown copyright, invention disclosure, and protecting confidential information. This module is a prerequisite for all other intellectual property modules. Topics Include: What is Intellectual Property? Copyright Patents Public Servants Inventions Act Trade Secrets Other Forms of Intellectual Property

The Copyright module provides more detail about copyright, Crown copyright, and how we manage both within PHAC. It describes Creative Commons open licenses and some best practices to legally use copyrighted materials in our work. It highlights the process to maintain Crown copyright when we publish in journals and touches on IP rights in procurement.

The Legal Agreements module describes agreements that protect PHAC’s IP, among other things, when staff transfer materials, exchange data, or collaborate with someone who is not employed by the Agency. It outlines the purpose of these agreements, when they are used, and their general requirements. It sets out the information OIPMBD typically needs to develop agreements and a brief overview of our process. The module also highlights federal resources to assess potential security concerns in research collaborations.

This module goes into more detail about patents, their purpose, and their required criteria. It presents a broad description of the patenting process and an introduction to patent searching. It ends with potential actions once a patent is granted, including licensing, infringement and PHAC’s Invention and Innovation Awards Plan. OIPMBD supports the patenting process for PHAC.