WIPO presents new licence option
Posted on 20/12/2011 by
One of the major challenges facing inventors, particularly those with little or no funding, is how to commercialise their invention. Auction sites such as Ocean Tomo, which holds its annual auction in April every year, are one option, but not many patents make the list. Another is identifying those companies operating in the relevant field and making cold calls: getting a foot in the door can be hard work and ultimately soul destroying for all but the most passionate.
Now there is to be a new option, available to all applicants for Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international patent applications from the beginning of 2012. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (known as WIPO) is to allow all applicants who want to do so to list applications as being available for licence on the WIPO Patentscope website. Applicants can notify their interest in licensing either by submitting an extra form to WIPO or by simply notifying WIPO by letter. It will also be possible to include licensing terms.
This option is available from the date of filing the international application until the expiry of the 30 month period at which it is necessary for the PCT applications to be translated into patents in individual jurisdictions.
The option is available immediately for any new applications from the beginning of 2012. Existing applicants may also access it, but only after their application has been processed and sufficient details are available to match the request and the patent application.