Students will be notified in advance, preferably in writing at the beginning of a course or project, if their participation may result in KSU ownership of their work.

Inventions and patentable discoveries made by KSU faculty, staff, or students in the course of their KSU employment, as a result of KSU-sponsored works, or with the use of significant KSU resources, shall be owned by Kentucky State University. Creators are required to disclose such inventions to KSU in a timely manner, typically within 60 days of conception or reduction to practice.

In cases where KSU IP is jointly created with individual or entities not affiliated with KSU, ownership rights will be determined by applicable law and any agreements governing the research or project.

Creators shall promptly disclose any potentially patentable inventions or other KSU-owned intellectual property (including software, TRP, and other potentially valuable IP) to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, or its designee. Disclosure should occur before any public disclosure, publication, sale, or offer for sale of the IP to preserve potential patent rights.

The disclosure shall be made in writing and shall provide sufficient detail to allow for evaluation of the intellectual property, including a description of the IP, identification of all creators, funding sources, dates of conception and reduction to practice, and any public disclosures.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel and other relevant KSU offices or committees, will evaluate disclosed intellectual property to determine its patentability or potential for other forms of protection, its commercial potential, and KSU's interest in pursuing protection and commercialization. The evaluation will consider factors such as: