PROTECTING UWC’s INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The primary role of the Technology Transfer Office is to manage the IP disclosure process and the protection and commercialisation of the IP.

Any IP with the potential to create social and/or economic value should be disclosed to the UWC TTO by contacting the TTO and completing the Initial Invention Disclosure Form. This document can be used to assess the potential for protection of the IP. Protection of IP will either occur by, amongst other routes; patenting, registering a trademark or registering a design.

It is very important to approach the TTO before making any public disclosure, such as journal publications, abstracts/poster/external meetings/talks at conferences, student theses, etc., that may destroy novelty required for statutory IP protection.

For more information, especially with regards to what constitutes public disclosure, please contact a member of our team or email tto@uwc.ac.za