The basics and not-so-basics of intellectual property (IP) are generally not very well understood by the general public, although the consequences of IP can be far-reaching. In particular, the scientific research community is becoming more involved in IP activities but often without understanding the constraints of IP.

This area of the Lens aims to acquaint the reader with some basic information on intellectual property concepts, but more importantly, to provide instructional material that is pragmatic. These materials present ” how-to” approaches in a number of areas. It is our belief that providing a framework for approaching an intellectual property topic will assist you in navigating the sometimes murky waters of patents.