Case 1 — 8-topic IP reference with JS swap (tti-research Block 04)
About patents & IP
Plain-language guide to patents, copyrights, and ownership at NUS.
The reference material researchers actually need — pulled out of the accordion and into something readable. Pick a topic on the left.
What counts as an invention
An invention is a new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter — or a new and useful improvement of any of these. At NUS, software, methods, biological materials, and engineered designs all qualify if they meet the legal tests of novelty, non-obviousness, and utility.
The shortest practical heuristic: if you're about to publish or present something that you also think a company might want to commercially license, that's a strong signal you should file a disclosure first.
Invention is a legal threshold, not a quality judgment. A disclosure is just a record. TTI decides whether to file.
Quick rule of thumb
If you're going to publish, present at a conference, post a preprint, or share a draft externally — get a disclosure in before. Public disclosure can affect patentability in many jurisdictions, especially Europe.
Who owns IP at NUS
By default, NUS holds title to inventions made by faculty, staff, and students using NUS resources. This is governed by the NUS IP policy.
Revenue sharing splits between inventors, the department, and the university are defined in current policy.
[Full content to be confirmed with TTI team]
Patents vs copyright vs trade secret
Different IP types protect different things. Patents protect inventions. Copyright protects creative expression. Trade secrets protect confidential information.
[Full content to be confirmed with TTI team]
Provisional vs full patent
A provisional patent application establishes a priority date and gives you 12 months to develop the invention and file a full application.
[Full content to be confirmed with TTI team]
International filing & PCT
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) allows a single international application to be filed, designating multiple countries.
[Full content to be confirmed with TTI team]
What you can publish, and when
Publication before filing can affect patentability. File a disclosure with TTI before submitting a paper, posting a preprint, or presenting.
[Full content to be confirmed with TTI team]
Co-inventors with other institutions
When NUS researchers collaborate with researchers at other institutions, IP ownership depends on the collaboration agreement.
[Full content to be confirmed with TTI team]
Prior commitments
Research funded by government grants or industry sponsors may carry IP obligations that modify default NUS policy.
[Full content to be confirmed with TTI team]