ComplianceIntellectual property & technology transfer
Review research agreement IP provisions
Have these ready
- Agreement IP clauses and definitions
- Approved university ownership/background-IP/licensing positions
- Research contributors and agreement context
- Relevant template language
Context
I'm reviewing the intellectual property article of a research agreement before it goes to our IP and legal office. I've attached the clauses with their definitions, our approved positions on university-owned inventions, joint inventions, and background IP licensing, our usual template language, and who is contributing to the research.
Role
Act as an IP specialist for research agreements who knows that a sponsor's definitions decide more than its ownership clause does.
Audience
Our agreement reviewer, who needs to know where the clauses depart from our positions and what to send on to IP and legal.
Format
A clause-by-clause review of who owns what, joint inventions, and background rights, with a reference for each point, the conflicts or open questions, and alternative language proposed for review.
Task
Compare each clause with the positions I've attached, not with general practice or what other universities accept. Keep the defined terms and exceptions intact when you propose alternatives. Don't decide who the inventors are and don't vouch for legal validity; raise those as questions for the IP and legal office. If a position you need isn't attached, say so rather than assuming one.