Patentable inventions and other marketable forms of intellectual property (IP) may result from research undertaken at a university. Universities have traditionally found it difficult to avoid the loss of patentable technology through the premature disclosure of that technology before commercialisation. The majority of jurisdictions have patent laws that stipulate that public disclosure of a patentable invention before a patent application has been filed will invalidate any subsequent patent obtained for that invention. Consequently, it is necessary to ensure that procedures are in place to ensure that research is kept confidential pending an active decision as to whether or not to seek a patent in respect of any related invention.