These guidelines supplement the IS&T recommendations for using Generative AI tools with MIT Information. The MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO) has additional requirements specifically for activities involving patent applications and Invention Disclosures under TLO management.
Classification of Patent‑Related Information
MIT categorizes patent‑related information into different risk levels when used with Generative AI tools:
Low‑Risk Information
Published pending patent applications
Applications that have been made public by a Patent Office fall into this category.
Medium‑ or High‑Risk Information
Unpublished pending patent applications are categorized based on foreign filing license status:
Medium Risk: The application has received a Foreign Filing License.
High Risk: The application has not received a Foreign Filing License.
High‑Risk Information
“In‑process” MIT Invention Disclosures, e.g., a disclosure that has not yet been reviewed by the TLO or a disclosure where a patent application is being prepared but not yet filed.
Use of Generative AI With Invention Disclosures
All in‑process MIT Invention Disclosures must receive approval from the assigned TLO Licensing & Business Development Officer before being used with any Generative AI tools.
Questions or Uncertainties
For any questions about how to handle an MIT patent application, or Invention Disclosure, contact the Licensing & Business Development Officer responsible for that specific matter.
These guidelines supplement MIT IS&T recommendations and outline specific TLO requirements for using public Generative AI tools when working with patent applications and Invention Disclosures managed by the MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO).
Published pending patent applications—those already made public by a Patent Office—are considered Low Risk Information.
Unpublished pending patent applications are treated based on foreign filing license status:
Medium Risk: The application has received a Foreign Filing License.
High Risk: The application has not received a Foreign Filing License.
All “in‑process” MIT Invention Disclosures, i.e., those not yet reviewed by the TLO or where a patent application is being prepared but not yet filed, are classified as High Risk Information.
Not without approval. All in‑process disclosures must be approved by your assigned TLO Licensing & Business Development Officer before being used with any Generative AI tool.
Because they may contain confidential, export‑controlled, or unpublished technical details that could be exposed through public AI platforms.
Reach out directly to the Licensing & Business Development Officer responsible for the specific patent application or Invention Disclosure.
Your officer can provide case‑specific advice, and IS&T maintains broader guidance on using Generative AI tools across MIT information types.
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