Patenting and Licensing: An Overview of the Processes

Abstract

Whenever a scientist or group of scientists make a new discovery (in the case of biological research, a new drug, a new formulation, a new process or new use for an old drug, etc.), they owe it to themselves and their sponsoring institution to protect a proprietary ownership of that invention. If these scientists work in government, the public that supports them deserves a return so that they can support future work and, of course, the stockholders of a private or public company also deserve a return for their monetary investment in this research.