Patent candidates
Potentially novel and non-obvious functions, methods, systems, compositions, or designs require inventorship, prior-art, disclosure, filing, and jurisdiction review.
One asset register • Different protection systems
Patent, Trade Secret, Trademark & Copyright Coordination
Aurora should classify each asset by what must be protected: functional invention, confidential know-how, brand identity, software or technical expression, data, contract rights, or a combination.
Public scopeNon-confidential structure, readiness, and inquiry routing.
Evidence languageConcept, analysis, simulation, prototype, and test remain
distinct.
No implied statusNo patent, funding, clearance, partnership, or job claim without
verification.
Controlled detailEnabling, restricted, personal, and privileged records remain
offline.
Structure
Operating framework
The public page explains the decision structure while detailed records remain controlled offline.
Trade secrets
Valuable non-public know-how may depend on reasonable secrecy measures, access controls, agreements, and consistent handling rather than registration.
Copyright
Original drawings, text, software, models, and visual material may be protected as expression; copyright does not protect the underlying invention, method, system, or idea.
Trademark and source
Names, logos, and source identifiers require clearance, ownership, goods/services strategy, use evidence, and consistent brand control.
Data and software
Identify dataset rights, licenses, privacy/security limits, model/code components, open-source duties, and permitted commercial use.
Contract rights
NDAs, assignments, licenses, employment/contractor terms, research agreements, and platform terms can determine control even where registration is unavailable.
Sequence
Decision sequence
Each stage produces a reviewable record before the next commitment is made.
01 — CaptureCreate asset/invention record and contributor history.
02 — SearchReview prior art, names, third-party rights, and public
disclosures.
03 — SelectChoose protection mix, ownership, jurisdictions, timing, and
budget.
04 — ExecuteFile, contract, restrict, register, mark, or publish as
approved.
05 — MaintainCalendar prosecution, renewals, secrecy controls, licenses, and
enforcement signals.
Decision aid
Working crosswalk
Use the crosswalk to frame the next review; it does not replace professional analysis of the actual facts.
| Asset | Primary protection question | What it does not automatically protect | Key record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional invention | Patent or trade-secret strategy | A website copyright notice does not protect function | Invention disclosure and counsel decision |
| Confidential know-how | Economic value and reasonable secrecy measures | An NDA alone does not create a patent right | Trade-secret register and access log |
| Drawing / text / code | Original human-authored expression and licenses | Underlying idea, method, or system | Authorship/source and registration record |
| Name / logo | Clearance, use, owner, goods/services | Product function or confidential method | Trademark search/use file |
Important limit: Avoid public disclosure until patent
counsel reviews timing and international objectives. USPTO guidance
notes that pre-filing disclosure may preclude patenting in foreign
countries.
Primary references
Official starting points
Requirements change. Confirm the current rule, program, or filing path with the responsible agency and qualified professional.
USPTO — Provisional patent applications ↗USPTO — Patent Public Search ↗USPTO — Trade secret policy ↗U.S. Copyright Office — Works not protected by copyright ↗USPTO — Intellectual-property basic toolkits ↗
Official links and public guidance reviewed August 2, 2026.
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