Foundation does not wish to receive or hold any submitted materials "in confidence," it is agreed that no confidential relationship or obligation of secrecy is to be established between the submitter and the foundation with respect to the submitted ideas and materials. (Confidential relationships have been held to create obligations beyond those which the foundation is willing to assume and because it may be necessary to refer a submission to a number of persons in the foundation for evaluation and incubation, secrecy cannot be promised even though there is ordinarily no intention of giving publicity to submissions). But we have policies and procedures to ensure that all information you provide is handled sensitively and securely.

The submitter, by this agreement, does not grant any rights to the Foundation under existing or future patents. However, except for claims of patent infringement, the Foundation shall have the unrestricted right to use and disclose any submitted ideas and materials. (The foundation seeks no licenses or other rights under patents by the Terms of Submission. Appropriate compensation for such rights may be determined by negotiations with the submitter if it is decided that the foundation is interested in the idea. We urge that the submitters be guided by their own attorneys as to the desirability of seeking patents and as to the fair value of any patent. Since patents are sometimes inadvertently granted on ideas which are, in fact, old or obvious, the foundation reserves its rights to contest the validity, infringement or enforceability of any patent. Others may freely copy unpatented products and processes and, therefore, the foundation is unwilling to accept any restrictions on its use or disclosure of submitted ideas, except for claims arising under patents.)

Patented Idea is subject to an issued or granted patent. New product ideas associated with pending patent applications, provisional patent applications, and/or patent applications that are otherwise in prosecution will not be accepted in this process.

You are the inventor of the Patented or business Idea, or you are the authorized agent of the inventor, and you are legally free to make this submission to the foundation.

Foundation will provide you with the status of its evaluation of your Patented or business Idea, but foundation has no obligation to share any information concerning its evaluation with you.

Foundation has no obligation to purchase or license your patent rights or business ideas, but you are legally free to convey patent rights should foundation desire to obtain patent rights from you.

Any prior negotiations or agreements are merged into and superseded by these terms, which may not be modified or waived except in writing signed by an authorized foundation officer or the foundation’s Chief Program Officer.

All information that you provide to the foundation is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge.