About the Research and Service Foundation
Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer
The Research and Service Foundation assists Georgia Southern University faculty from all academic units in identifying, obtaining, and managing intellectual property. The most visible rewards of this research and scholarly pursuits are the host of publications, presentations, and graduate theses, which communicate these research findings to scientific colleagues throughout the world, and provide the basis for educating students. Such broad dissemination of research results is unquestionably the primary goal of the University's research activities.
Intellectual property can be defined as any new, novel, and useful product that is created through efforts of research and development. The creation and development of new inventions and improvements, many time utilizing existing technologies, are a primary force of our economy which relies upon the sharing and transfer of technology into the marketplace.
Creators and inventors of intellectual property benefit from sharing their original work and ideas with the public through a process called technology transfer. The public compensates creators for their work by granting them intellectual property protection in the form of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. These forms of intellectual property protection provide inventors and authors with exclusive rights to the benefits of their creation, and allow the creator to license or sell these exclusive rights for a profit.
Intellectual Property Policy
The Georgia Southern University Intellectual Property Policy governs all intellectual property created by faculty, staff and students.
Types of Intellectual Property Protection
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Patent: Protects an invention for 20 years from the date of filing.
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Trade secret: Any information, device, method, formula, etc., whether or not copyrightable or patentable, which is not generally known to the public and which gives competitive advantage to its owner.
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Copyright: Protected written and artistic works for the life of the author plus 70 years.
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Trademark: Protects icons such as words, names, symbols, or designs that symbolize a certain individual or organization, for as long as the icon remains in regular use. Examples include “Nike” and “GM”.
For additional information or questions concerning the Intellectual Property Policy, please contact Charles E. Patterson in the Office of Research Services and Sponsored Programs.