If you’ve dipped your toes into the world of intellectual property (IP), you’ve probably encountered two key tools: Invention Disclosure Software and Information Disclosure Statement Software.
At first glance, they might sound interchangeable.
But they’re as different as brainstorming a brilliant new gadget and filing the paperwork to make sure no one else claims it.
But do you really need both? Can you get away with just one? Or is there some middle ground?
Let’s break it down, without the jargon, and figure out what’s worth your time (and budget).
What is Invention Disclosure Software?
Say you’ve got an R&D team that’s cranking out ideas faster than coffee disappears in morning meetings.
These ideas need a home—a place to live, breathe, and grow. Who knows once these ideas grow, they may have the potential to get patented.
That’s where Invention Disclosure Software steps in.
That it’s the Swiss Army knife of innovation lifecycle management, couldn’t be truer.
Here’s what it does:
- Captures ideas: A centralized platform for inventors to record their “aha” moments.
- Enables collaboration: Teams refine and assess the commercial viability of ideas.
- Run Innovation Challenges: Collect ideas and get more invention disclosures to build the patent portfolio around focused business or real-world challenges.
- Streamlines workflows: Managers evaluate, score and prioritize innovations, deciding which ones are patent-worthy. One stop for the innovation managers, legal teams, or patent committees within a company and external law firms.
- Documents thoroughly: It includes details like the problem being solved, how the invention works, inventor contributions, and supporting data or diagrams.
- Prior art search: Supports early-stage innovation processes to assess whether an idea or invention should proceed to patenting or other forms of IP protection.
What does it includes:
- A detailed description of the invention.
- Potential applications and benefits.
- Problem-solving aspects.
- Inventors’ names and contributions.
- Supporting data or drawings.
- Focuses on the invention’s novelty and potential.
Related Read: Invention Disclosure: What it is and what does it mean for a company?
And here’s something for you to ponder upon: In 2022, global spending on R&D reached a whopping $2.4 trillion.
Compaines are clearly investing big in innovation.
But the sad part is that a huge chunk of brilliant ideas never make it past the brainstorming stage.
Why? Simply because they’re poorly documented or mismanaged!
What about Information Disclosure Statement Software?
Now, picture this: you’ve decided to patent that game-changing gadget.
The next step?
Convincing the patent office that you deserve it.
The sole purpose of an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) is to let the USPTO know about any “prior art” (think related patents, papers, or products) that could affect your application.
The USPTO Information Disclosure Statement form requires meticulous details, and messing it up can lead to costly delays—or worse, invalid patents.
In 2023 alone, over 450,000 patent applications were filed with the USPTO . With top activity, staying compliant is non-negotiable.
IDS Software ensures that all this information is:
- Gathered accurately.
- Organized for easy filing.
- Submitted on time to avoid any “oops, we missed the deadline” moments.
- In compliance with the duty of disclosure under U.S. patent law.
- Submitted to the patent examiner handling the application at the USPTO.
It includes citations of relevant patents, published applications, journal articles, or any prior art.
Core Features
Invention Disclosure Software
- Idea Capture: Centralized platform for inventors to document their ideas.
- Collaboration: Allows teams to collaborate on refining ideas.
- Evaluation Tools: Features for scoring and assessing the novelty, feasibility, and commercial potential of an invention.
- Workflow Automation: Streamlines approval processes involving managers, legal teams, or committees.
- Innovation Challenges: Enables organizations to run contests to solve specific problems or gather ideas.
- Reporting & Analytics: Offers dashboards and reports for tracking innovation progress and impact.
- End-to-end innovation lifecycle and disclosure management
- Audit Trails: Keeps detailed logs to maintain compliance and provide transparency in case of disputes.
- Prior Art Search: Helps users collect and document references (patents, publications, etc.) relevant to their invention.
- Unlimited integration and customization possibilities
IDS Software
- Prior Art Management: Helps users collect, organize, and manage references (patents, publications, etc.) relevant to their patent application.
- Compliance Automation: Ensures accurate and timely submission of prior art disclosures to the USPTO or other patent offices.
- Tracking & Notifications: Tracks submitted IDS filings and provides alerts for upcoming deadlines.
- Integration with Patent Management Systems: Often integrates with broader patent management tools to streamline the filing process.
Can You Bridge the Gap with Just One?
Relying Only on Invention Disclosure Software
Yes, it’s possible to rely solely on Invention Disclosure Software if:
- You are a growing company
- You partner with patent attorneys:
- Many patent attorneys or law firms specialize in preparing and filing IDS documents.
- Your organization can use invention disclosure software to document innovations and share them with external attorneys for further prosecution.
- Your IP needs are managed:
- If your organization files only a few patents per year, prior art disclosures through invention disclosure software may suffice, eliminating the need for IDS software.
- This is common for startups or small businesses with limited resources.
- You use a hybrid approach:
- Some invention disclosure software includes features for prior art tracking and integrates with external IDS tools.
- For example, solutions like InspireIP offer AI-powered prior art search tools (PQAI), which can bridge the gap for IDS needs.
- You prioritize fostering innovation:
- Your organization wants the entire workforce to innovate.
- You want to run focused innovation challenges to capture patent-worthy inventions or innovative ideas.
Related Read: Don’t Buy Invention Disclosure Software Until You Review This
For Instance: The Growing Companies
Startups are often juggling a thousand priorities, and looking for ways to cut corners, without cutting their chances of success.
These are growing companies that need to make the best use of their budget and investment opportunities.
If you’re in this camp, you might think: “Why not just get started with Invention Disclosure Software and leverage integrated prior art tools?”
And honestly? That’s a valid move!
Many growing businesses do exactly that.
For example, a tech startup with a lean team might use software like IP Assist to capture and manage invention disclosures. Once an invention is greenlit, they hand off the patent process to a legal expert.
Relying Only on IDS Software
This option is rare but possible for organizations solely focused on patent compliance. Without a steady flow of inventions, there’s no need for idea-capturing tools.
For example, an organization managing legacy patents or acquiring IP through mergers might prioritize IDS Software for compliance without needing invention tracking features.
For Instance: A Corporate Giant Needs Both
Imagine a multinational company filing dozens (or hundreds) of patents every year. For them, using both types of software isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Take a company like Samsung.
In 2023, they filed more than 10,000 patent applications globally.
Managing inventions and prior art for that volume without software? Impossible.
They likely use robust Invention Disclosure Software for their R&D teams and Information Disclosure Statement Software to ensure airtight filings.
Here’s why it works:
- IDS Software automates repetitive tasks like compiling prior art.
- Invention Disclosure Software fosters innovation by encouraging teams to submit ideas seamlessly.
It’s the perfect one-two punch for companies with complex IP portfolios.
Practical Hosting the Right Tools
If you’re still on the fence, here’s a simple approach to finding your sweet spot:
- Assess Your Needs
Start by asking yourself: How many patents do we file annually? How big is our innovation team? Are we managing IP internally or outsourcing to attorneys?- If your organization files numerous patents each year, managing prior art and IDS submissions manually can become overwhelming and error-prone.
- IDS software automates this process, ensuring compliance and saving time.
- Look for Hybrid Solutions
Some platforms, like InspireIP or PatSnap, combine invention disclosure and prior art management. They’re perfect for organizations looking to streamline everything under one roof. - Invest Gradually
If budget is tight, start with Invention Disclosure Software and outsource IDS submissions. As your IP needs grow, you can add a dedicated IDS tool. - Complex Legal Requirements
Industries like pharmaceuticals or tech, where patents are highly competitive, often require robust IDS management to avoid litigation risks. - In-House IP Management
Companies with dedicated legal or IP teams may prefer to have both tools to centralize all patent-related activities internally.
Ending Note
If you’re a startup or a growing business, you can start with just invention disclosure software.
And if you’re scaling rapidly or managing a high volume of patents, both invention disclosure management system and information disclosure statement software will save you time, money, and headaches.
- Invention Disclosure is a company’s internal mechanism to capture and manage innovations, while an IDS is an externally submitted document critical for complying with patent application laws.
- Both are essential in the innovation-to-patent process, but they serve very different stages and objectives.
With the right tools in place, you can focus on what truly matters—bringing your best ideas to life.
