Abstract:
Publishing of research findings is an important activity in the academic fraternity. However, if the
research findings are novel it is better to patent protect first and then publish later in an open forum. An
invention is owned by you until it is patented. Patent is the culmination process of knowledge production and
thus must be protected and then exploited for socio-economic gain. The patent process is long and arduous
and involves the Technology Transfer Office of the Directorate for Research & Innovation. The process involves
patent search, appointment of patent attorney and then writing in legal language the scientific invention. This
aspect is important as this cover the areas or loopholes where others might infringe on the patent. The patent
search involves the searching of the invention in all patent databases so not infringe on other patents. The
patent attorney is an expert on law and also in scientific matters and will guide you in the patent search and
drafting the patent document that outlines your invention. Once the provisional or complete patent is filed
and registered nationally and or international (Patent Cooperation Treaty), the inventor(s) can then proceed
to harvest the benefits of the patent for the next 20 years. Now the paper can be published in peer reviewed
journal (open public forum). The inventors also gain two things: the patent and the publication. The benefits
accrue to the inventors and applicant, in this case the University where the research was conducted. University
Rankings take into account the patents held by universities annually. Thus taking a patent has more benefits
and it is better to patent protect the novel idea and then publish later.
