UM Technology Transfer Policy

Formerly called the UM Intellectual Property Policy, a new technology transfer policy was established effective January 1, 2007. Under the new policy, inventors with an ownership stake in a licensee no longer must waive their share of university revenues from the licensee, and instead are able to receive compensation directly from UM. This eliminates some situations with disincentives for inventors and makes UM policy consistent with most of our peer institutions.

In addition, the following changes clarify and better define established practices:

An inventor, not defined in previous policies, is defined for inventions connected to patents, copyright or materials.
Further refines when U-M claims and does not claim ownership of an invention.
More completely defines the responsibilities of the Office of Technology Transfer.
Further defines the rules and a process for establishing the distribution of license revenues.
Clarifies procedures for reassignment, e.g., when an invention has multiple inventors.
Establishes an appeal process for inventors through the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).

The [January, 2007] policy should help to streamline and facilitate the University's technology transfer process. See the Tech Transfer website, Tech Transfer Policy to review the policy.