Legal Definitions - Disclosure Document Program

The Disclosure Document Program (DDP) is a service offered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that allows inventors to officially record the date they conceived an invention.

Think of it as a way to create a dated, official record of your invention's initial idea or concept. An inventor submits a written description, drawings, or other materials detailing their invention to the USPTO. The USPTO then stamps the document with a filing date and keeps it confidential for two years. It's important to understand that filing a Disclosure Document is not a patent application itself and does not grant any patent rights. Its primary purpose is to provide verifiable evidence of the date an inventor first thought of their invention, which can be valuable proof of early inventive effort if questions about inventorship or timing arise later.

Here are a few examples of how the Disclosure Document Program might be used:

• Scenario 1: The Individual Innovator

  An independent inventor, Sarah, develops a novel design for a self-watering planter. She has a clear concept and some preliminary sketches, but she's still refining the prototype and doesn't yet have the resources to file a full patent application. To establish an early official date for her invention, Sarah prepares a detailed description of her planter, including its unique features and how it works, along with her sketches, and submits it to the USPTO as a Disclosure Document.

  How it illustrates DDP: By filing the Disclosure Document, Sarah officially records the date she conceived her invention. This provides her with a valuable timestamp. If, several months later, she discovers another inventor working on a similar planter, or if she needs to prove she had the idea first, her DDP serves as concrete evidence of her early inventive effort and the specific date her concept was documented by the USPTO.

• Scenario 2: The Startup Seeking Investment

  A small tech startup, "BioSense," has developed a groundbreaking algorithm for early disease detection. They are preparing to pitch their idea to venture capitalists and potential partners, but they are not yet ready to file a comprehensive patent application due to ongoing research and development. They want to discuss their innovation with external parties while having some form of official record of their invention's conception.

  How it illustrates DDP: Before their investor meetings, the BioSense team files a Disclosure Document detailing their algorithm's methodology and potential applications with the USPTO. This action creates an official, dated record of their invention's core concept. This allows them to engage in discussions with investors and partners with greater confidence, knowing they have documented evidence of when they developed the foundational idea, which can be important for due diligence and demonstrating their priority in the invention.

• Scenario 3: The Academic Researcher

  Dr. Lee, a university researcher, discovers a new method for synthesizing a biodegradable plastic. He needs to conduct extensive further testing and publish his findings in scientific journals before a full patent application can be prepared. He wants to secure an early date for his invention without immediately committing to the complex and costly patent application process.

  How it illustrates DDP: Dr. Lee submits a Disclosure Document to the USPTO, outlining his new synthesis method, the chemical compounds involved, and the potential properties of the resulting plastic. This establishes an official date for his invention's conception. This dated record can be crucial if questions arise later about the originality or timing of his discovery, especially as he moves towards publication and potential commercialization, providing a clear marker of when his inventive work was formally documented.