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Glossary of Terms

Glossary

Glossary of Terms

Technology Transfer

The transfer of technology refers to the process of moving technology, created through research, out of the laboratory and into commercial markets. To learn more about Technology Transfer, check out CURF's Process of Innovation.

Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest refers to anything that will significantly or directly impact Clemson University’s interests, compromise a person’s objectivity, or compromise a person’s ability to perform their responsibilities to Clemson. Check out the Clemson University Conflict of Interest Policy for more information.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property is any invention, discovery, technology or know-how that is a result of creativity and is eligible to be protected with a patent, trademark, or copyright. For more information, read the Clemson University Intellectual Property Policy.

Trademark

The Clemson University Intellectual Property Policy defines trademark as "a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others."

Patent

A patent is a form of intellectual property that gives an inventor the right to “exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States” for a limited period of time. A patentable invention must be useful, novel and non-obvious.

License

A license grants a third-party the right to use a patentable invention, copyright or other material.

Procurement

Procurement refers to the process of acquiring supplies, equipment, construction, and services from an external source. For information, check out the Clemson University Research Foundation Procurement Policy.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

An NDA is a legally-binding contract that requires one or more parties to refrain from disclosing confidential information for a defined period of time.

Non-Confidential Summary

A Non-Confidential Summary, or NCS, is a one-page summary document created by CURF that describes a technology for purposes of potential commercialization.

Grant

A grant is a transfer of funds, or a product, from one party—usually from the Federal government—to another non-federal party. Grants are used to fund specific projects, ideas, or inventions that benefit the general public.

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