Working with TCO

Our services are structured to provide you with ongoing support the pursuit of practical and scalable applications that transform your research from an academic to a commercial success. As a university-specific resource, we aim to ensure that you receive the highest quality of patent protection, recognition of inventor rights and technology transfer activities, and compensation from licensing revenues.

 

IP Protection

TCO is your source at USC for assistance with intellectual property and entrepreneurship. Working with experienced patent attorneys, we will help you assess and protect your innovative ideas. Our goal is to license USC technologies and to move your research into the marketplace. Success to us is the social impact for our community and a financial return to you and the University as a result of your innovative work.

Under the University of South Carolina’s IP Policy, faculty and staff should disclose all intellectual property created using University resources to the TCO. The University pays for all patent costs for protecting USC-created intellectual property. USC has a generous revenue-sharing model in which the inventor receives 40% of revenue generated by licensed technology. The inventor’s home college and department also share in the revenues.

 

The University pays for all patent costs for protecting USC-created intellectual property. USC has a generous revenue-sharing model in which the inventor receives 40% of revenue generated by licensed technology.

 

Confidentiality is key.

From conception to publication, confidentiality is key to safeguarding the patentability of your research. Disclose your invention to us as early as possible, prior to public announcements in forums such as conferences, seminars, journal articles, and lectures as these methods may jeopardize your intellectual property rights. We will work with you to file for provisional patent protection so that you may share the results of our research quickly without worry.

Before engaging in conversation with others outside of the University, contact TCO. We will also put in place a confidentiality agreement or material transfer agreement to protect your proprietary information so that you and your outside colleagues may freely exchange proprietary information or materials without worrying about harming intellectual property rights.