Because of the 1-year publication bar, you basically have to prepare a patent application concurrently with publication. So in practice publishing and patenting are simultaneous.<p>You also have to consider the prospective impact of the rule. Would smart ambitious people go into the PhD&#x2F;academia track if they couldn&#x27;t parlay research into a business opportunity? Many wouldn&#x27;t.<p>Of course patents aren&#x27;t a necessary condition for turning research into a business. But for hard R&amp;D type businesses, they&#x27;re a pretty important criteria to getting investment.