Hot I.P. Frequently Asked Questions
1.
What is the intent of Hot I.P?
Excellent research is being continually conducted at most of the world’s
leading universities, institutes and major laboratories. This often results
in discoveries and innovations, i.e. intellectual property (IP). Whether these
are viewed as minor or major, or “exciting” or “intriguing,”
depends to some extent “on the eye of the beholder.” At the same
time, there are simply too many discoveries “blossoming” each week
for any one individual to monitor them all.
Our editorial staff, and many of our readers, have sought a way to scan this flowing stream of breakthroughs in a selective fashion. But who can make the selection of which IP to spotlight?
As the world’s leading publisher of resources for continuing professional education in the field of technology transfer, we realize that the research commercialization leaders on each campus and lab keep aware of virtually all IP being produced by researchers and others in their organization. Thus our model of selectivity is to require those leaders to themselves select only those innovations they deem within their top echelon of available IP. We ask each submitter to vouch for their listed IP’s quality and commercial potential, and we specifically discourage and refuse to include IP without an appropriate pedigree and a high degree of novelty and potential impact on the commercial marketplace.
In short, our intent is to create a regular forum for marketing these high-potential, select innovations in an affordable yet extremely powerful way, by sending each edition of Hot I.P. to our unparalleled database of nearly 200,000 tech transfer and research commercialization professionals, investors, attorneys, corporate IP managers, consultants, economic development officials, and research administrators worldwide. We believe this is the most cost-efficient means available anywhere for generating qualified leads among potential investors, corporate partners, and other licensee prospects.
2.
How does Hot IP differ from the many other services or Web sites with extensive
lists of patents and/or available intellectual property?
The principal differences are the “selectivity” we provide and the
use of our powerful e-mail database to actively push available innovations out
to prospects. This approach is in contrast to having IP listings reside with
thousands of others in a large Web site, which requires prospects to be actively
searching for specific IP — and find your listing among hundreds or thousands
of others.
Other IP services and sites emphasize their number of listings and their “comprehensiveness,” and are open to any organization or individual to submit and list any IP they wish. Vast IP databases such as those can be quite helpful if one already knows what precise IP one is looking for, and one needs to find that particular IP and related items. Through keyword search and other mechanisms, they make it possible to locate a proverbial “needle in the haystack” among millions of patents and other IP listings. So they can be useful in certain defined situations.
In contrast, our Hot IP service is intended for professionals in all fields who have broader interests. They do not have time or inclination to review the torrent of IP pouring into the world weekly, but they want to stay aware of the most promising IP items coming into view, regardless of subject area. Examples of such professionals include venture capitalists, angel investors, economic development officials, technology incubator directors, corporate IP managers, new product developers, and acquisition chiefs.
Our readers want to know that a credible professional outside our publishing organization has attested to the worth or intrigue of the selected item. That, we believe, is the perfect role for the Director of Technology Transfer (or similarly situated executive). As leaders, these executives have an overview of all IP that comes to fruition within their entire organization. Yet, since they are not a member of any one department or research group, they hold no bias for the workproducts of any particular professor or subject area.
3.
Are there any fees of any kind associated with submitting an item for consideration
for inclusion in Hot IP?
Yes. There is a charge of $149 per item accepted for distribution via the Hot
IP service. In addition, each submission must include a non-refundable $50 fee
to cover our internal editorial review, assessment, and communication with the
submitting organization. This $149 fee for accepted items includes distribution
in our e-bulletin to nearly 200,000 IP and research commercialization professionals
worldwide, and archiving on the Hot IP website for up to one year.
In addition, we offer an optional add-on public relations service for $100 per item. This extra service provides submitters with a ready-to-print one-page press release in PDF format, which can be used to send to local media, circulate to administrators and stakeholders, and to share with inventors. In addition, this option includes a certificate suitable for framing, noting that the IP submission was accepted for inclusion in Hot IP, and for distribution to our database of research commercialization professionals. To see a sample press release, click here; to see a sample certificate, click here.
4.
Can an institution pay money to insure mention of its submission in Hot IP?
No. Money plays no role in assessing suitability. All submissions are subject
to the review of the Editors of Hot IP. Any deemed unacceptable by the Editors,
in their sole discretion, may be returned to the Sender. Reasons for rejection
of a submission may include poor or unclear explanation of the IP, insufficient
explanation of its promise or intrigue, too little appeal to a wider audience,
gross puffery, etc.
5.
What happens after the Hot IP issue with my submission is distributed? How do
interested parties contact us?
Each submission contains the name and title of the submitter, plus full contact
information for up to three individuals in your organization. Interested companies
or investors contact you directly. Any further discussions and information exchanges
are handled by you and the third party completely independently, and without
the involvement of Hot IP.
6.
If we make a deal, are there any further success fees or costs to us for the
service?
Absolutely not. This is another advantage of the Hot IP service, compared with
many other IP match-making services. The only cost to you is the fee for the
listing. Even if you make a $500 million deal, we receive no further revenue
and you have no further fees due to Hot IP, making it not only unique in its
selectivity and reach, but also its cost-effectiveness.
7.
Who can submit an item for consideration in Hot IP?
Submissions are only accepted from Technology Transfer Directors and similar
executives with responsibility for organization-wide commercialization activity.
These include directors and administrators of research commercialization, knowledge
transfer, translational research, and contract and sponsored research.
8.
Why do you limit “Submitters” to the above categories of persons?
We feel that only these senior executives have the position, authority and perspective
to have a fully informed view of all or most of an organization’s IP,
to assess it, and to select only the most promising. They are not beholden to
any particular department or scientist at their institution. It is also their
duty to ascertain or theorize about the potential usefulness or likely market
acceptance of new innovations produced by scientists within their organization.
Thus, these leaders are best qualified to determine which assets within their
constituencies have great potential or most intrigue for potential commercial
partners and licensees.
9.
Can an inventor personally submit his/her invention to Hot IP for consideration?
Can a booster, backer, investor or friend submit it on his/her behalf?
No. We feel inventors and their coterie of friends and backers may be prejudiced
toward the importance of their discovery or innovation. Also, they do not have
the benefit of a campus-wide perspective, which would enable them to compare
and contrast their development with items of IP produced elsewhere on campus.
We respect the natural “pride of discovery” inventors may rightly
feel, but any such innovations must pass the “selectivity” filter
of organization leaders insofar as potential or likely market acceptance is
concerned.
10.
How should an item be submitted for consideration for Hot IP?
Once you have placed your order for submission, you will be directed to an online
form where you will be asked various questions about the IP you wish to submit.
Submissions and general queries may also be sent by e-mail to Hot-IP@technologytransfertactics.com.
You may also print out a completed submission form and fax to: 239-649-5101.
11.
What criteria should a Submitter use in deciding which IP item(s) to submit?
The Hot IP service is intended to be selective.
We do not seek or encourage a large number of submissions. The submitter is
in a sense acting as ombudsman for the nearly 200,000 recipients of Hot IP.
They want to know what one or two current inventions or innovations —
out of all IP available organization-wide — the Submitter considers to
have most potential or to be most intriguing.
The Submitter’s reasoning is a part of the submission, in sections describing
the unique aspects of the IP and the business opportunity it presents to potential
partners or licensees.
12.
How many items can a Submitter send in within one time period? Is the number
of Submissions limited in a given time period?
Though there is no number limit on the number of submissions, no more than one
submitted item from the same organization will be included in any single issue
of Hot IP. This ensures that only the most valuable IP available is included
in the service and puts the responsibility on the Submitter to select only the
very best assets.
13.
Is the information in a submission in any way to be regarded by the Publisher
or Reader as “confidential”?
No. The submission form asks only for “non-confidential information.”
Thus submitters should not
include any confidential or proprietary information at this early stage. Later,
it will be up to the Submitter to agree on confidentiality terms with any party
whose inquiry is deemed promising.
14.
Does your listing of any IP or invention in Hot IP imply you, as publisher,
independently verified any of its claims or stated uniqueness? Does such listing
substitute for a reader’s own due diligence?
The nominee items are received in good faith from institutions and laboratories
believed to be reliable, but no warranty or representation of any kind is made
by us. We as publisher do not conduct our own, or an independent, verification
of any claim or assertion made by a Submission. Nor is the submitter itself
making any warranty or guarantee for any submission it transmits. Thus, it is
up to the interested reader or end-user to conduct customary due diligence regarding
any IP that interests them.
15.
Is every submission within stated guidelines automatically accepted? Do the
Publisher and Editor have any discretion in accepting one?
Submissions comporting with our guidelines have a high likelihood of being accepted.
However, acceptance is not guaranteed. Among reasons which could delay or prevent
acceptance are: poor or unclear writing, lack of sufficient justification for
considering this IP item “Hot” (i.e., why is it truly promising
or intriguing?), excessive puffery, etc. These assessments and judgments are
made by our Editors and the Publisher, in their sole discretion.
16.
Is the Submitter notified of Acceptance or Non-Acceptance?
Yes. Usually within 48 hours an e-mail will be sent confirming receipt of the
submission. Editorial review can generally be completed within seven days after
that. At that point another e-mail will be sent, conveying acceptance, proposing
modifications, or conveying non-acceptance. Whenever possible, explanations
will be included.
17.
What happens to the fees paid in the event of a non-acceptance decision?
For submissions that are not accepted for publication, the $149 fee and any
other add-on fees paid are refunded to the submitter immediately. However, the
$50 editorial review and assessment fee is non-refundable, and covers our review
procedure regardless of the decision regarding acceptable or non-acceptance.
18.
Is there any intermediate category short of full acceptance, such as “Accepted
subject to satisfactory revision,” etc?
Yes. Although we believe most submissions will fall clearly within our “Acceptable”
category, we recognize some meritorious submissions may contain stylistic or
editorial faults which should be remedied. Others may need more information
supplied, or meanings clarified. In such cases the Submitter will be notified
of provisional acceptance, and be invited to make necessary changes or clarifications.
19.
Can a Non-Acceptance response be appealed?
There is no higher level of “appeal.” But, following a rejection,
the Editors and Publisher are always willing to reconsider an adverse decision
upon receipt of a constructive, explanatory e-mail from the Submitter, perhaps
accompanied by revisions in the text of the submission.
20.
If an item is accepted, how long does it stay in the archives of Hot IP issues?
Can these back issues be reviewed?
Back issues of Hot IP will be archived for up to a year on the company’s
Website at http://www.technologytransfertactics.com/content/hot-ip/. These are
open and accessible to all readers and visitors without charge.
21.
If I have further questions, how do I contact Hot IP?
The best contact method is e-mail: Hot-IP@technologytransfertactics.com.
You may also reach us by phone at 877-729-0959 or 239-263-0605, or by fax at
239-649-5101. Mail may be sent to: Hot IP, 4301 Gulfshore Blvd, Ste 1404, Naples,
FL 34103.
22.
Who’s behind Hot IP?
Hot IP is produced and operated as a unit of Tech Transfer Central. This is
a unit of BizWorld, Inc., a privately held, independent information company
based in Naples, FL. It is the world’s largest provider of materials for
continuing professional development in technology transfer. We publish two monthly
paid-subscription newsletters: Technology Transfer Tactics and Intellectual
Property Marketing Advisor, as well as two free weekly e-zines: Tech
Transfer eNews and IP Marketing eNews. These e-zines are each
received by over 150,000 research commercialization professionals worldwide.
In addition, we produce a robust series of 60-90 minute distance learning events (audioconferences and webinars) held throughout the year. These may be listened to “live,” via MP3 or on CD, and may also be purchased as PDF transcripts. These events are also offered in a custom Distance Learning Subscription program that allows our customers to select multiple events from our line-up at significantly discounted rates. The company also publishes The Tech Transfer Library, a series of topic-specific special reports.
The two principals in the publishing firm, Publisher and Chairman Leslie Norins, MD, PhD, and CEO and Executive Editor David Schwartz, have a combined 60 years of successful experience providing needed and helpful information in a wide variety of scientific and medical fields.
FAQ last revised January 22, 2009