Making it happen -- a U.K. patent office training programme on laser discs

The development of an elaborate training and publicity programme by the U.K. office is described. The initial phase comprised a Roadshow which toured the country explaining the importance of industrial property to representatives of industry and educational institutions. Out of this was developed a patent training package on two laser discs with barcode access to the various topics covered. This initial package has now been expanded into a four-disc system providing a guide to the whole innovation process from the first innovative idea, through the steps of commercial evaluation and on to the alternative options of exploitation by the originator or by licensing, and it incorporates the original "Patent Training Package". The package is available as a whole or in individual sections.