Hospital Community
Patents and Licensing
Patents and Licensing Process
TIDO develops innovations using a multi-faceted approach through the protection and licensing of intellectual property, investment in Children's Hospital technologies, and establishment of strong research and development partnerships with industry throughout the innovation to product life cycle. Ultimately, our end goal is to license the technology to a company partner based on the innovation and subsequent Intellectual Property. The process by which a discovery becomes a product is summarized below.
Patents and Licensing
Children's Hospital Discoveries
The process begins when Children's Hospital clinical, research or support staff discovers an invention that could solve an unmet medical need. Discoveries include devices, diagnostics, information technology, clinical discoveries, data, therapeutics and research tools.
Invention Disclosure
The Children's Hospital inventor should file an invention disclosure with TIDO. The Invention Disclosure is the written notice of the invention to TIDO and is important for legal purposes.
Technology Assessment
TIDO evaluates the invention and assesses its patentability, commercial potential and market. TIDO identifies potential commercial partners that have the interest, commitment and resources necessary to bring the product to market.
Intellectual Property Protection
TIDO determines and oversees appropriate intellectual property protection for the invention, working with outside law firms.
Marketing
TIDO actively seeks committed commercial partners by maximizing exposure of technologies through the presentation of multi-media materials to industry in a variety of forums.
Licensing
TIDO negotiates license agreements with existing or newly formed companies to develop the technology and bring a product to market.
Product Development and Sales
TIDO monitors the licensing partner's progress to ensure the effective commercialization of the invention. Any revenue generated from the license agreement is distributed in accordance with Children's Hospital Boston policy to the inventors, departments, the research endowment and TIDO.