The session, led by Bob McGrath, PhD from Yale Ventures, emphasized that universities have long been engines of groundbreaking innovation—from recombinant DNA and AIDS therapies to the barcode and mRNA vaccines—and that the next major advance could just as easily begin in a Yale lab. Designed to demystify the world of intellectual property (IP), the presentation explored what IP is, why it matters, and how it underpins the innovation ecosystem at Yale and beyond. Drawing on Newton’s reminder about “standing on the shoulders of giants,” Bob illustrated how today’s discoveries build on generations of ideas, and how a thoughtful IP strategy both protects that progress and fuels the continued cycle of innovation.

The Purpose of Intellectual Property

IP exists not just to protect ownership, but to create incentives for innovation by granting inventors temporary exclusive rights — a “mini-monopoly” — to benefit from their ideas.

These protections allow innovators to choose how their work is shared or commercialized, from exclusive use to licensed partnerships to free, dedicated use by the public.

Learn more: IP & Licensing at Yale
 

The Four Classes of IP

Trade Secrets: Privately held information that gives a competitive advantage (e.g., the Coca-Cola formula). Yale rarely uses trade secrets because the university’s mission is to publish and share discoveries.

Trademarks: Logos and symbols that represent a brand or organization (e.g., the Yale logo, Nike swoosh). Yale Ventures works with inventors and the Office of General Counsel to protect trademarks tied to new technologies or products.

Copyrights: Protect creative works fixed in tangible form (art, literature, music, code). Copyrights typically last for the life of the creator plus 70 years and can also apply to software.

Patents: Protect new, useful, and non-obvious inventions, including plants, designs, and utility innovations. Patents are filed through a rigorous process that grants inventors exclusive rights for a set time (usually 20 years).

Learn more: IP & Licensing FAQ
 

Filing an Invention Disclosure at Yale

When to Submit: Preferably before publicly sharing or publishing your innovation. Public disclosure before filing can eliminate international patent rights.

How to Submit: Visit the Yale Ventures website and click “Submit Your Innovation.” The form gathers essential details about the innovation, funding sources, collaborators, and any public disclosures.

What Happens Next: The Yale Ventures business development team reviews each submission, discusses it with the innovators, and works with external patent counsel to determine protection and commercialization strategies.

Learn more: Submit your innovation or connect with the Yale Ventures IP & Licensing Team
 

Common Misconceptions About Patents

Patents take time and effort. The process can take years from filing to approval.

Software patents are complex. While software can be protected through both copyright and patents, enforcement can be difficult; sometimes controlling access to it is the better route.

Provisional filings can protect fast disclosures. Yale Ventures can file quickly — even same-day — to preserve rights if a public disclosure is imminent. This is not the ideal case, but we can do it when necessary.  Always feel free to reach out with any questions.
 

From Innovation to Impact

The session highlighted the historic role of universities in driving innovation, from recombinant DNA and mRNA vaccines to the barcode and computer chips.

Yale Ventures’ goal is to guide inventors from idea to impact — ensuring that the university’s discoveries become real-world solutions, products, and companies. Learn more about the impact of Yale innovation in the recent Yale Ventures Annual Report.