Sharing a research work that is not yet published (not even a preprint on arXiv) can have several benefits, such as receiving early feedback, increasing visibility (especially for junior researchers), and attracting potential collaborators.
On the other hand it also has some risks, such as being scooped by others or jeopardizing anonymity during the review process or public disclosure for patent application.
To maximize the benefits and minimize the risks, I suggest sharing only with trusted colleagues who have the expertise to provide constructive feedback and ethics to maintain confidentiality. If the paper is still under review, check the conference/journal policies (e.g., this for SIGGRAPH). For patent application, any public disclosure will invalidate international filings but there is a one-year window for US filings.
Leave a Reply