Meaning
Formalized procedure for internal reporting of patentable technical advancements within a firm. The invention disclosure workflow begins when an engineer or researcher completes a standard form describing a new solution to a technical problem. This document acts as the primary record for determining whether a patent application should be filed.
It provides the legal team with the date of conception and the names of all contributing inventors.
Information Gathering
Technical teams must provide enough detail in the report for a person skilled in the art to understand how the innovation works. In an invention disclosure workflow, this data includes sketches and code snippets. Capturing this information early prevents the loss of rights due to public disclosure or the departure of essential staff.
Legal Assessment
Patent attorneys review the submission to check for novelty and non-obviousness before proceeding with a full application. The invention disclosure workflow includes a search of prior art to identify any existing patents that might block the new claim. This stage filters out inventions that are too narrow to justify the cost of international filing fees.
Strategic Planning
Management uses the output of these reviews to align the patent portfolio with the commercial goals of the business. Filing priorities change accordingly.
