What is an invention disclosure document and is it important?

I've not heard the phrase "invention disclosure document" before. If it is similar to a non-disclosure agreement, then it is used to prevent others you show your invention during the course of development to from copying your invention without your permission.

An invention disclosure document is NOT a patent application. It is a document that sets forth basic information about an invention and serves as a business record that identifies details like: Title of the invention Brief description of the invention Names, addresses, citizenship data about the proposed inventors What does the invention do? How does it do it? Who will use it? Has there been any public disclosure of the invention? If yes - when? (there is a one-year filing deadline from this date). Has the invention been built and tested? Was this done in public? If yes - see the one-year rule again. What is the market for the invention? Who will buy it and use it? What is like the invention already available to the public? This is part of the "prior art" that your must be different from. Thus - yes the Disclosure Document is very important - as it helps the patent attorney prepare the patent application. GOOD LUCK!