WEBVTT 00:08.100 --> 00:10.660 As an air force scientist or engineer , 00:10.670 --> 00:12.950 you are part of a major engine of 00:12.950 --> 00:14.894 innovation that includes more than 00:14.894 --> 00:18.410 10,000 S and ES at over a dozen major 00:18.410 --> 00:20.790 research laboratories around the United 00:20.790 --> 00:24.390 States . You and your colleagues are 00:24.390 --> 00:26.390 continuously innovating to meet the 00:26.390 --> 00:28.501 ever changing threats to our national 00:28.501 --> 00:30.790 security by making discoveries and 00:30.790 --> 00:32.900 advancements in virtually all major 00:32.900 --> 00:35.730 technology fields . And federal 00:35.730 --> 00:38.550 legislation obligates you to disclose 00:38.550 --> 00:42.550 your inventions . So how do 00:42.550 --> 00:45.930 you know if you have an invention ? We 00:45.930 --> 00:47.652 will explore several important 00:47.652 --> 00:49.430 questions on that topic in this 00:49.430 --> 00:53.420 training module . 1st . What is 00:53.420 --> 00:57.230 an invention ? Potentially any 00:57.230 --> 00:59.397 innovation that helps the air force to 00:59.397 --> 01:03.010 fly , fight and win in air 01:03.020 --> 01:06.130 space and cyberspace ? Maybe an 01:06.130 --> 01:09.630 invention and inventions are not just 01:09.630 --> 01:13.190 limited to devices , manufactured goods 01:13.200 --> 01:17.140 or chemical compositions , algorithms , 01:17.240 --> 01:19.500 synthetic biological materials , 01:19.750 --> 01:22.640 computer data and software training 01:22.640 --> 01:25.070 systems and a whole host of other 01:25.070 --> 01:27.300 innovations that enhance capabilities 01:27.300 --> 01:31.180 may all qualify in general . 01:31.380 --> 01:33.350 Inventions should meet three key 01:33.350 --> 01:36.940 criteria . They should be novel , they 01:36.940 --> 01:39.820 should be useful and they should be non 01:39.820 --> 01:42.750 obvious to help you . Remember this ? 01:42.890 --> 01:44.420 Just think of a nun 01:47.380 --> 01:49.880 in order to qualify as novel an 01:49.880 --> 01:51.730 invention must be substantially 01:51.730 --> 01:53.952 different from anything that is already 01:53.952 --> 01:55.790 known to the public . It cannot 01:55.790 --> 01:58.610 previously have been patented , used 01:58.780 --> 02:01.750 described in a publication or sold in 02:01.750 --> 02:04.270 an open market . The scope of this 02:04.270 --> 02:08.140 prohibition is worldwide . If 02:08.140 --> 02:09.973 your innovation has already been 02:09.973 --> 02:12.420 patented in Japan , described in a 02:12.420 --> 02:15.480 German publication or sold in China , 02:15.680 --> 02:18.240 it is not considered novel and is not 02:18.250 --> 02:21.920 eligible for a patent to qualify as 02:21.920 --> 02:24.300 useful . An invention must solve a 02:24.300 --> 02:26.910 problem and represent an improvement 02:26.910 --> 02:30.230 over existing technology . It also must 02:30.230 --> 02:33.290 actually function or at least function . 02:33.290 --> 02:37.160 In theory . For example , you cannot 02:37.160 --> 02:39.600 obtain a patent on a flying saucer 02:39.600 --> 02:41.750 powered solely by harvesting energy 02:41.750 --> 02:44.550 from the air unless you can provide a 02:44.550 --> 02:47.130 sound theoretical basis for the devices , 02:47.130 --> 02:50.750 actual operation and you provide enough 02:50.750 --> 02:53.260 information that a person with skill in 02:53.260 --> 02:55.880 the art could build it without undue 02:55.880 --> 02:59.510 experimentation . Finally , an 02:59.510 --> 03:02.550 invention must be non obvious , an 03:02.550 --> 03:04.661 invention would be considered obvious 03:04.661 --> 03:06.828 if someone skilled in the field of the 03:06.828 --> 03:09.050 invention would be able to combine what 03:09.050 --> 03:11.580 is currently known in the art to create 03:11.590 --> 03:14.840 your invention . Non obvious inventions 03:14.840 --> 03:17.400 typically have an inventive step or 03:17.400 --> 03:20.170 other aha moment that yields a surprise 03:20.170 --> 03:22.470 result or otherwise overcomes a 03:22.470 --> 03:24.420 technical limitation that had not 03:24.420 --> 03:27.840 previously been solved . Our second 03:27.840 --> 03:31.510 question is do improvements qualify as 03:31.510 --> 03:35.090 inventions most likely ? 03:35.090 --> 03:38.050 Yes , most inventions represent 03:38.050 --> 03:40.340 improvements on previous innovations 03:40.650 --> 03:42.880 such as improving efficiency or 03:42.880 --> 03:45.100 combining existing technologies in a 03:45.100 --> 03:47.700 unique manner . This means that your 03:47.700 --> 03:50.110 work does not have to create a new type 03:50.110 --> 03:53.070 of laser or cure cancer . In order to 03:53.070 --> 03:56.660 qualify as an invention . For 03:56.660 --> 03:59.140 example , the original weed eater 03:59.140 --> 04:01.390 patent combined to previously known 04:01.390 --> 04:04.740 inventions , a reel of heavy duty nylon 04:04.740 --> 04:07.870 fishing line and a rotary motor to 04:07.870 --> 04:09.981 create a novel device that could trim 04:09.981 --> 04:13.850 grass . In this case , the 04:13.850 --> 04:16.400 invention met all three tests by being 04:16.400 --> 04:19.850 novel , useful and non obvious . 04:21.690 --> 04:24.710 Our next question , how do I determine 04:24.710 --> 04:28.030 if my invention is truly novel , useful 04:28.100 --> 04:32.000 and non obvious . The answer 04:32.000 --> 04:35.470 is you the S and D do not have to make 04:35.470 --> 04:37.850 that determination . Making those 04:37.850 --> 04:40.710 decisions require specialized expertise . 04:41.040 --> 04:43.130 Fortunately , Air Force patent 04:43.130 --> 04:46.680 attorneys have that expertise . Your 04:46.680 --> 04:48.890 primary obligation is to report your 04:48.890 --> 04:51.460 potential inventions by filling out an 04:51.460 --> 04:54.520 Air Force invention disclosure , A FM 04:54.520 --> 04:57.990 Cielo form 12 79 and the Air Force 04:57.990 --> 05:01.580 invention evaluation A F M C L O form 05:01.580 --> 05:05.130 1981 . The patent attorneys will assist 05:05.130 --> 05:08.480 you from there next up 05:08.590 --> 05:10.970 who can be an inventor . 05:12.530 --> 05:16.080 Potentially anyone can be an inventor . 05:16.660 --> 05:18.771 The field of invention is not limited 05:18.771 --> 05:20.604 only to s and ease with advanced 05:20.604 --> 05:23.270 degrees . Anyone in the Air Force who 05:23.270 --> 05:25.492 comes up with a technical solution that 05:25.492 --> 05:28.760 is novel , useful and non obvious , 05:28.890 --> 05:32.790 maybe an inventor . This includes 05:32.800 --> 05:35.380 but is not limited to front line 05:35.380 --> 05:38.000 warfighters , maintenance and repair 05:38.000 --> 05:40.410 depot personnel , and medical 05:40.410 --> 05:44.240 professionals . And our final question , 05:44.630 --> 05:47.080 will an invention disclosure prevent me 05:47.080 --> 05:49.270 from publishing a journal article or 05:49.270 --> 05:52.590 technical report ? No 05:53.290 --> 05:55.012 S and S sometimes believe that 05:55.012 --> 05:57.123 patenting and publishing are mutually 05:57.123 --> 05:59.240 exclusive that they must choose to 05:59.240 --> 06:02.600 either patent or publish . This is not 06:02.600 --> 06:06.590 true , you can do both . However , the 06:06.590 --> 06:09.150 timing of these activities is important 06:09.590 --> 06:11.757 innovations should be disclosed to the 06:11.757 --> 06:13.701 Air Force . Well , before they are 06:13.701 --> 06:15.423 shared with the public through 06:15.423 --> 06:17.479 presentations or publications , this 06:17.479 --> 06:19.534 allows Air Force patent attorneys to 06:19.534 --> 06:21.240 evaluate and properly protect 06:21.240 --> 06:23.970 inventions , disclosing your 06:23.970 --> 06:25.970 innovations to other parties before 06:25.970 --> 06:27.970 they are adequately protected . May 06:27.970 --> 06:30.081 jeopardize the Air Force's ability to 06:30.081 --> 06:32.860 file patents or otherwise protect and 06:32.860 --> 06:34.890 properly control valuable new 06:34.890 --> 06:38.430 technologies . Do you think you may 06:38.430 --> 06:41.090 have an invention ? Talk to your order 06:41.090 --> 06:44.310 or technology transfer manager or email 06:44.320 --> 06:48.280 A F dot tech transfer at us dot AF dot 06:48.280 --> 06:50.530 Mil for further information .