If you are a Kansas State University faculty, staff or student who believes they have created something with commercial potential, contact the K-State Research Foundation (KSURF). KSURF secures legal protection (patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc.) for intellectual property created at the University, and works with the National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization (NISTAC), a not for profit corporation which helps facilitate the commercialization of technologies for regional economic and social benefits.
Inventions can be protected by patents, which grant the owner "the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling" the invention. To be patentable, an invention must be novel, non-obvious, and have utility.
Trademarks protection can be obtained for words, names, or symbols indicating the source of goods and distinguishing those goods from others. Trademark protection prevents others from using marks that might be similar to avoid confusion.
For more information regarding patents and trademarks, including application forms and fees, visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or visit our list of Patent and Trademark links.