Page 9 - Mass General Brigham - Innovators Guide 1.2

9 INNO V AT O RS GUIDE | M ASS GENERAL BRIGH AM

1
Defining the

1 innovation pathway

Commercialization process continued
It is important to stress that rights to make use of a novel idea must be In 2011 the America Invents Act (AIA) was passed
protected prior to sharing an innovation in a public forum, publication, into law converting the U.S. patent system from
internet abstract, poster or almost any forum that includes people beyond intellectual property protection based on “first to
Mass General Brigham employees. It is essential to ensure that the idea
not be prematurely disclosed publicly since such disclosure may preclude invent” to “first to file”.
the ability to patent an invention.
Even if an IDF has been submitted, it is important to
keep an invention confidential until a patent application
has been filed. Important areas of inventions are often
pursued competitively by multiple groups. The filing of a
patent, often via a provisional filing (temporary 12-month
protection that becomes public information if it is not
converted into a full patent), can protect against another
party filing on the same idea. Sometimes, in a highly
competitive field, a difference of even a day can determine
who is ultimately awarded the patent. See page 10 for a
summary description of the U.S. patenting timeline.
Invention Disclosure: https://
innovation.partners.org/wp-content/
uploads/2020/12/Mass-General-Brigham-
Innovation-Invention-Disclosure-Form-
6.1.docx
Use the Innovation Directory to find your
department’s Licensing Manager: https://
innovation.partners.org/our-team