Information for Inventors and Authors

Working with the MSU Technologies team can lead to benefits for inventors, the university, and the nation as MSUT facilitates the commercial development and public use of MSU technology inventions and copyrightable materials developed by MSU faculty and staff.

The chart to the right illustrates the typical steps an invention goes through after an invention disclosure has been received at MSU Technologies. (See Inventors' Guide for additional information about this process.)

For patentable technologies, MSUT staff work with inventors to obtain patents and ultimately to license the invention to third parties in return for royalties, which are shared with the inventors under university policy. MSU licensees include large and small companies worldwide and a growing number of entrepreneurial ventures in and around Lansing, Michigan. (Find out more about patenting.)

If the material is a copyrightable work, copyright licensing staff will assist with licensing the product to third parties, or with distributing the product through university channels. As with patentable technologies, royalties on licenses of copyrightable works are shared with the product authors under university policy. (Find out more about copyrights.)

MSUT staff also process and track confidential disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, and other documents relating to collaborative arrangements with non-MSU entities; assist faculty with applications for external funding; review intellectual property language in pending grants and contracts; and assist faculty contemplating start-up companies.