Protecting your SALUKI APP

Hello SIU Community!  Are you preparing your Saluki App Competition entry?  Here is some information you might find useful about how you can protect others from copying your app idea.

This is not legal advice, but we can point you to some links for additional information.  If you want some additional assistance for your specific case, please contact techtran@siu.edu/(618) 453-4556.

A possible scenario might be to copyright your software code, trademark your app name, and keep trade secrets.  Read about the different types of intellectual property protection for software:

• Read about copyrights, FAQs, Wikipedia: to protect your images, text and code (computer programs are defined as literary works in the Copyright Act).
• Read about trademarks: to protect your app name.
• Read about trade secrets: trade secrets are what you never tell anyone, protect from leaving the building, and otherwise protect under non-disclosure agreements, e.g. specifics about how your invention works.
• Read about patenting software: patents for software are controversial and difficult to get; however in some cases, getting a patent might be possible (especially if you have lots of dough).

You also want to make sure that your idea is unique, and that you don't copy someone else's work without permission.

1. Do a knock-out search to ensure you won't infringe someone else's existing intellectual property. (Note: this knock-out search relates to searching for patents, but it can be adapted to work for copyright as well.)
2. If you integrate open-source code in your app, be sure to read the license agreement and make sure you have the right to use it freely.

Here are some additional links to information about apps and protecting your APP for you to read up on (for informational purposes only):

• Article about copyright and trademark for apps on Legalzoom.com: Protecting and Selling Your Mobile Application 
• How To Protect Your Mobile App Idea: Non-disclosure agreements and other best practices for protecting mobile apps
• This is mostly about security issues (protecting from cyber attacks through apps), but can probably serve as a kind of 'best practices': SANS - Protecting Your Web Apps Two Big Mistakes and 12 Practical Tips to Avoid Them

Competition seeks unique Saluki software 'apps'

By Christi Mathis, for the Southern
February 11, 2013

CARBONDALE - Is there an ‘app’ for that? 

That’s the question for experienced or aspiring software application creators who want to compete in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s inaugural Saluki App Competition. 

Students and student-led teams are welcome to participate in the event and compete for cash prizes by creating mobile device software applications (apps) that best enhance the SIU Carbondale campus and/or Southern Illinois. 

The contest will award $800, with the top five app ideas winning prizes. All entries are due by 1 p.m. March 29. Online voting is from April 1 to 15. 

“Universities across the country are creating contests like this to stimulate student innovation. This is one of several initiatives we have started, along with the Southern Illinois Research Park and Office of Economic and Regional Development, to encourage student involvement in entrepreneurial research and development activities,” Jeff Myers, senior technology transfer specialist with the University’s Technology Transfer Program, said. 

Teams may be comprised of any number of students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public, but at least half of the team must be comprised of spring 2013 SIU students -- whether undergraduate or graduate, full-time or part-time. 

Each entry must include short text description of the original app, a video presentation and a photograph of the working application. There are several different categories and genres for the competition. The complete contest rules and entry forms are online at http://siu.launcht.com. 

The announcement of winners is set for the annual Research Town Meeting on April 16. 

Competition sponsors include the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Dean, the Technology Transfer Program, and the Student Innovation Incubator at SIU Carbondale, along with Husch Blackwell LLP. 

For more information, email Amy McMorrow Hunter at techtran@siu.edu or call 618/453-4556. 

Information provided by University Communications at SIU Carbondale

Snaps...

...to the EcoLight team, winners of the Fall 2012 Saluki Idea Competition.  They shared their winnings and provided 12 students with memberships to the Industrial Design Society of America.  Way to go guys!

Coffee Talk NOW

Good morning!  Join us (Amy McMorrow Hunter, Jeff Myers) at the Student Center McDonald's now until 11:00am for coffee, rolls, and intellectual property.  We can talk about the Saluki App Competition, innovation, patents, whatever your fancy!

Come have a coffee tomorrow

First Tuesday Tech Tran Coffee Talk is taking place during the hours of 9:30 -11:00 a.m. tomorrow  morning (Tuesday, Feb. 5) at the SIU Student Center McDonald's.  The members of the SIU Tech Transfer team are available to answer any questions you may have about inventions and technology transfer at SIU, and for general discussion surrounding intellectual property and innovation.

Lunch Seminar Feb. 15 at Dunn-Richmond

On February 15 Dr. David Gulley will present "The Care and Feeding of an Innovation Ecosystem: What does this Mean for Researchers and Inventors?" as part of a luncheon seminar at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. Lunch will be provided.  The event is free, but space is limited, so reservation of a space is suggested. Download the Flyer.

Get Your App On

The Spring 2013 Saluki App Competition is underway. $800 in prizes will be awarded to SIU students and student teams by votes from the crowd and our panel of judges. Go to http://siu.launcht.com for complete guidelines and to enter.

Saluki App Competition - Spring 2013

Competition Mission

The mission of the Saluki App Competition is to encourage SIU Carbondale student involvement in the technology and business of creating useful and valuable application software (“apps”) for mobile devices.

Overview

The Saluki App Competition will take place in spring semester 2013.   Individual students and student-led teams will compete for prizes by creating and submitting software applications (apps) for mobile devices that make the SIU campus and/or the southern Illinois region better.  Five teams will win prizes.  Teams can read the rules and enter on siu.launcht.com.

This competition is sponsored in part by:

• Husch Blackwell LLP
• SIU Carbondale Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Dean
• SIU Carbondale Technology Transfer Program
• SIU Carbondale Student Innovation Incubator