How does data relate to inventions and patents? And do researchers have discretion over whether to file a patent?

The University has an ownership interest in all inventions or discoveries made under the auspices of the University. It holds that intellectual property rights that may exist in research data and related materials shall remain with the University, and that any dissemination and commercialization of knowledge resulting from research conducted by Yale researchers shall be done in accordance with University policy. Refer to Yale Patent policy. Data may need to be retained for longer than the period specified in the policy if the University has not made a determination whether to file a patent for which the data are pertinent at the end of the retention period.