A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.
Red Hat highly encourages its employees to disclose and submit patent inventions liberally
- Red Hat wants to build up a patent portfolio for defensive purposes.
- It will discourage other companies from suing Red Hat, claiming that we infringe their patents
- Such a portfolio will help deter litigation-minded companies from bringing us to court
- We will be able to countersue them for infringing our patents
Under U.S. law, anyone (whether or not a U.S. citizen) may obtain a U.S. patent on any useful, new, and non-obvious process, machine, article of manufacture, composition of matter, or improvement on any of the foregoing.
You need to submit an electronic form through Red Hat's internal patent management system. You can access the patent system using Red Hat SSO credentials(pin + token).
For further details and screenshots, please see Submitting a New Invention Disclosure. Any patent related inquiries or system issues can be submitted to invent@redhat.com.
1. I am not an engineer
You do not need to be in engineering to contribute to Red Hat's patent-procurement success.
2. I can't do it alone
Multiple people can be included as inventors on an invention disclosure, but each has to have contributed to the conception of the invention.
3. I need to build it and I am not good at coding
You don't necessarily have to create a working prototype or write code to pursue patent protection.
4. I am not a prodigy and patenting requires some abnormal intelligence
Breaking the streotype, "You do NOT need to be a prodigy". The paper clip was a simple idea and has been patented! IBM patented the Out of Office notification in 2017!
5. My idea is quite obvious
The requirement of non-obviousness for an idea to be eligible for a patent is highly misunderstood. Just because a concept or process is "obvious" to you, doesn't mean it will fail to meet the requirements for patentability.
6. My idea seems to exist and is old
Focus on identifying new aspects of products/methods you have developed and submit those aspects for possible patenting without prejudging their patentability. The first paperclip was patented in 1867 and was triangular in shape. The paperclip we see today was re-patented again in 1927.
7. My idea is totally out of the context and doesn't fit in a Red Hat product
Given Red Hat's interest in developing a defensive patent portfolio, your ideas have value and will be considered for patenting, regardless of whether those inventions ever appear in a Red Hat product or not.
- Your company wants you to submit your inventions liberally and refrain from discarding them too hastily
- Gives you an edge in promotion
- Some recognition of course!
- Incentive Linked Patent Program
- $75 for each inventor named on a complete disclosure
- Application Filing Award
- $1,500 if the application only names one inventor
- $3,000 divided equally among the inventors if the application names two or more inventors
- Patent Issuance Award
- $1,500 if the application only names one inventor
- $3,000 divided equally among the inventors if the application names two or more inventors
- Win-Win Situation. Nothing to loose but Something to gain!
Yes, the list can be found here.