OFFICE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
October 16, 1997
ALL AT UCSD
SUBJECT: New UC Patent Policy and Patent Acknowledgement
President Atkinson has issued a new University of California Patent Policy effective on October 1, 1997. Effective on the same date, a new Patent Acknowledgement form was also issued, to replace the present Patent Agreement form.
With respect to the Patent Policy, in addition to changes which more acccurately reflect current University of California organization and practices, the following major changes have been made:
1. The April, 16, 1990 UC Patent Policy has been rescinded and all
inventions reported before October 1, 1997 will be governed by the November 18, 1985 Patent Policy. In essence, the 1985 policy had no tiers and all inventors received 50% of Net Income (Net Income = Gross Income less 15% for administrative costs and less unreimbursed legal expenses).
2. The royalty distribution in the new Patent Policy has been substantially changed:
- The 15% administrative assessment used in the calculation of
inventor shares has been eliminated.
- The inventors will receive 35% of Net Income.
- 15% of Net Income from each invention will be sent to the campus
and designated for research-related purposes.
- The change of the distribution time of income to inventors to
November for the preceding fiscal year had been approved a year ago and is now memorialized in the new policy.
The Patent Acknowledgement form replaces the Patent Agreement and must
be signed by all new employees, by persons not employed by the University but who use University research facilities, and by those who receive gift, grant, or contract funds through the University. It has been changed to an "acknowledgement" to reflect recent decisions in the the courts that the
UC Patent Policy has the force of law, and is the equivalent of a statute (it does not require a formal agreement to be effective). Only new employees or those required to sign an Agreeement but who had not yet done so will be asked to sign the Patent Acknowledgement. All of those who have already signed the Patent Agreement need not sign the new
Patent Acknowledgement unless there has been a break in service or use of UCSD facilities. The new Patent Acknowledgement forms are available in the Storehouse.
Detailed information on the policy, the acknowledgement, comparisons of our distribution policy with other institutions, as well as answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found at:
http://www.ucop.edu/ott/patentpolicy/first.html
If there are questions about the new policy and its implementation, please contact the Technology Transfer Office at: ph: 4 5815; fax: 47345; email: mrachmeler@ucsd.edu
John Woods
Vice Chancellor