invention disclosure

An invention disclosure, or invention disclosure report, is a confidential document written by a scientist or engineer for use by a company's patent department, or by an external patent attorney, to determine whether patent protection should be sought for the described invention.{{cite book |first=George C. |last=Prendergast |title=Molecular Cancer Therapeutics: Strategies for Drug Discovery and Development |publisher=Wiley-IEEE |date=2004 |isbn=0-471-43202-4 |page=312}} It may follow a standardized form established within a company.{{cite book |first=M. Henry |last=Heines |title=Patent Empowerment for Small Corporations |publisher=Greenwood |date=2001 |isbn=1-56720-452-X |pages=122–123}}