Question: Who must disclose to VA?

Answer: Salaried Employees (including IPA's), WOC Appointees with Research Responsibilities, Dual Appointment Personnel.

Question: Is it true if I disclose to my university affiliate I do not have to disclose to VA also?

Answer: No. Under VA regulations and policies all inventions must be disclosed to VA.

Question: What happens when more than one organization claims ownership?

Answer: The VA recognizes that other organizations may assert an ownership right in the same invention that results from their relationship with the inventor. Under these circumstances both organizations are entitled to ownership in the invention; i.e., joint ownership.

Question: Does the Bayh-Doyle Act preclude this?

Answer: No. Based on a July 30, 2001 letter from the Department of Commerce "joint ownership may arise for an invention by a person who holds a joint appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs and a university.

Question: What option is available when joint ownership occurs?

Answer:Cooperative Technology Administration Agreement(CTAA). (Formerly known as Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) See Model Agreement section.

Question: What is the purpose of the CTAA and how does it work?

Answer: Allows VA and university to be joint owners of the intellectual property; defines terms; outlines the handling of intellectual property; defines royalty split and revenue income handling; and encompasses all existing and future intellectual property.

Question: Can the VA retain equity in lieu of money under a license agreement?

Answer: No, VA cannot retain equity. However, CTAA partners may retain total equity until sold and VA's portion provided.

Question: Should inventors refrain from publishing papers or making oral disclosures before a patent application is filed?

Answer: Inventors must take extreme care not to disclose information that would enable someone skilled in the technology to which the invention pertains to make and/or use the invention. Public disclosure could include talks, lectures, poster presentations, newspaper or newsletter interviews, all publications, public use, sale, or offer to sale of the invention. Disclosure of any information prior to filing appropriate paperwork with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) voids all international patent rights. Domestic US patent rights are voided if appropriate paperwork is not filed with the PTO within one year of disclosure of pertinent invention information.