18. Invention, Intellectual Property and Income

Invention

An invention is a novel and useful creation or process that enhances the quality of life and contributes to economic growth. It encompasses a wide range of innovations, from technological advancements to new methods of doing things. Inventions can be tangible products or intangible processes that offer solutions to existing problems or introduce new efficiencies and capabilities.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Intellectual Property refers to the legal rights granted to protect creations of the mind. These rights are designed to incentivize innovation and creativity by ensuring that creators can reap the benefits of their work. There are different types of IP:

• Patents: Protect inventions, granting the inventor exclusive rights to use, sell, and license the invention for a certain period.
• Trademarks: Protect brands, including logos and names, ensuring that consumers can identify the source of goods and services.
• Copyrights: Protect creative works such as books, music, films, and software, granting creators control over the use and distribution of their works.
• Trade Secrets: Protect confidential business information that gives a company a competitive edge, such as formulas, practices, designs, instruments, or a compilation of information.

Income

There are several ways to generate income through IP, including:

• Licensing: Allowing others to use the IP in exchange for a fee. This can be a one-time payment or ongoing royalties.
• Sales: Selling the complete IP to another entity.
• Commercialization: Developing and selling products based on the IP. This involves bringing the invention to market and directly selling it to consumers or businesses.
• Enforcement: Taking legal action against unauthorized use of the IP to seek damages or settlements. This helps protect the value of the IP and deters infringement.

By leveraging IP, inventors and businesses can profit from their creations, fostering economic growth and encouraging further innovation.

Dissemination Plan

Creative Commons

"Creative Commons is an international nonprofit organization that empowers people to grow and sustain the thriving commons of shared knowledge and culture we need to address the world's most pressing challenges and create a brighter future for all." -Creative Commons website

For my final project I have decided to use the Creative Commons licensing, because even though I spent a lot of time on my project, my goal for it is that people can build their own desks by just paying for the materials and the time spent on a CNC router. I would like to contribute to equity by making this coworking desks avalilable for everyone, so people with any type resources can create and innovate with a tool designed with makers and students in mind. To create a Creative Commons license you can click here to create your own.

You will be taken to this page where you have to fill a format with information of your invention to generate your own license.

After you finish the format you will be granted your license, in my case it was a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International.

Future Possibilities

I would like people to improve on this project, one example could be to make their custom pegboard accesories, different connection modules, etc. I think that it has a lot of room for improvement particularly on the strength structure, maybe thicker legs or a base for them, also I would like to paint it or maybe add some PVC layers so the whole desk works as a cutting mat, maiking it very durable.