04-03.20 – Policy on Intellectual Property

  1. Introduction

    The primary mission of universities is to create, preserve, and disseminate knowledge. When that knowledge takes the form of intellectual property, a university must establish a clear and explicit policy that will protect the interests of both its creators and the university while ensuring that society benefits from the fair and full dissemination of that knowledge. 

  2. Effective Date 

    This policy will be effective on July 1, 2002 (“Effective Date”). It will apply to all intellectual property on or after July 1, 2002. Intellectual property prior to the Effective Date will remain subject to the USM Policy on Patents effective May 31, 1990 or the USM Policy on Copyrights effective May 31, 1990, unless otherwise agreed by the University and all creators of the intellectual property (or the heir or assignee of any creator’s share of Revenue).

  3. Definitions

    The terms defined in this section are given special meanings in this policy and appear capitalized throughout. Other terms used in this policy with generally accepted definitions are included in a Glossary. 

    1. Faculty. Faculty shall be defined as personnel at the ranks identified in the University Policy 02-01.00: Appointment, Rank and Tenure of Faculty, Section VI.B.1.a., and any additional faculty ranks available for use defined in USM Policy II-1.00 Appointment Rank and Tenure of Faculty, Rank and Tenure and the corresponding University policy.

    2. Net Revenue. Gross Revenue in the form of cash, including liquidation of equity, received by the University from the commercialization of University-owned Intellectual Property less unreimbursed expenses incurred in the protection of such Intellectual Property.

    3. Personnel. Those persons who receive a salary or other consideration from the University for performance of services on a part-time or full time basis. University employees with an appointment of less than a full year (e.g., 9-month) shall be considered Personnel for actions undertaken during their period of appointment. Students who receive wages for working on a University-administered scope of work or project are Personnel when acting within the scope of that employment. Personnel also include University consultants, visitors and others using University resources.

    4. Resources Usually and Customarily Provided. All resources provided unless specified otherwise, in advance and in writing, as a condition of using the resource. This includes, but is not limited to, such support as salary or compensation, office space, library facilities, ordinary access to computers and/or networks, and other resources as may permit Personnel to perform tasks defined in their job description.

    5. Revenue. Consideration paid in cash or equity by a third party in exchange for specific intellectual property rights. Revenue does not include research support in any form (e.g., sponsored research agreements, restricted grants, unrestricted grants, or equity), tuition income, and contract income received by the University including contract income received in lieu of tuition.

    6. Scope of Employment. All activities related to the field or discipline of the Faculty member’s appointment, including the general obligation of a Faculty member to teach, to do creative work, and to conduct research, or related to the employment responsibilities of non-Faculty Personnel, and for which Personnel receive compensation from the University, where compensation is any consideration, monetary or otherwise. 

    7. Sponsored Research Agreements. Grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements under which research or development activities will be carried out, or other agreements administered by the University that relate to intellectual property created under the agreement. 

    8. Students. Persons enrolled in a University, acting within the course of their academic work, including, but not limited to, undergraduates, graduate and professional students, non-degree students, and not-for-credit students.

    9. Student Employee. A Student who is also a University employee, acting within the Scope of Employment. 

    10. System Institution. A constituent institution of the University System of Maryland.

    11. University. Towson University.

    12. University System of Maryland. The public higher education system of the state of Maryland (the “USM”), composed of eleven universities, three regional higher education centers, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and the University System of Maryland Office. 

  4. General Provisions

    1. Purpose. The purpose of this policy is to set forth the terms, conditions and procedures whereby the University, Personnel and Students establish and maintain their interests in intellectual property created by or used at Towson University, taking into account intellectual property laws governing patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property. This policy governs the ownership and protection of such property at the University. 

    2. Scope of Application. All Personnel and Students shall comply with this policy, as amended from time to time. This policy shall be included in the Faculty Handbook, as directed in the USM Board of Regents (“BOR”) Policy II - 1.00, Section I. B.2.

    3. Protecting University Interests. Personnel and Students may not (1) sign agreements or take any action on behalf of the University unless they are authorized agents of the University, or (2) make unauthorized use of the name of the University. In cases where Personnel or Students take such actions, the University is not bound to honor those actions or agreements.

    4. Acquisition. The University may acquire ownership or use of intellectual property by assignment, license, gift, bequest, or any other legal means. The University shall administer such intellectual property in accordance with this policy unless otherwise required by the terms of the acquisition.

    5. Administration of Intellectual Property which is not University-owned. At the request of the owner, intellectual property not owned by the University may be administered by the University. In such cases this policy shall govern that administration unless the University agrees otherwise in writing.

    6. Sponsored Research

      1. Ownership. Sponsored research agreements shall provide that all intellectual property developed by Personnel or Students under such agreements shall belong to the University; however, the University, on a case-by-case basis (as circumstances warrant, and consistent with applicable private use restrictions, e.g., under bond covenants), may agree to assign ownership or licensing rights to the sponsor, subject to the University’s right to use and reproduce the intellectual property for research and educational purposes. The University’s President or designee shall approve any such agreement.

      2. Federal Sponsorship. Any research project that is funded, in whole or in part, by a federal agency is subject to specific federal statutes and regulations. Those regulations generally allow the University to elect title to any invention that is conceived of or first actually reduced to practice in the performance of federally-funded research with the purpose of commercializing the invention, subject to the government’s rights which include reservation of a nonexclusive license to use the invention worldwide for government purposes.

      3. Internal Research Funding. The University’s internal research funding, unless subject to another provision in this section, shall not be considered funding under a Sponsored Research Agreement.

    7. Implementation Authority. The University President shall have the authority and responsibility to implement and coordinate this policy. Subject to the other provisions of this policy and applicable law, the President may enter into agreements with respect to ownership, licensure, disposition of intellectual property, disposition of royalty income, resolution of disputes, and other matters related to intellectual property in which University has an interest under this policy, and may register intellectual property; seek protection under copyright, trademark, and/or patent laws; and enforce, defend, manage, and take any action relevant to the University's intellectual property rights that is necessary for the proper administration of this policy.

  5. Copyrights

    1. Ownership by Creator. Personnel and Students shall have all rights in copyrights of their work, which shall include traditional scholarly works, including, but not limited to, course materials, course syllabi, lecture notes, etc., regardless of the form in which such works exist (e.g., tangible or electronic) subject to Section V.B. below, with the following exceptions.

      1. Scope of Employment. The University owns all rights in copyright for work produced by non-Faculty Personnel within the Scope of Employment.

      2. Sponsored Research Agreements. The University owns all rights in copyright for work produced by Personnel or Students under Sponsored Research Agreements.

      3. Signed agreements. The University owns all rights in copyright for all work as stated in written agreements.

      4. Computer Programs and Software. Ownership of copyrighted software and computer programs is addressed in Section VII.

    2. Right of Use.

      1. University rights. The University shall have the right to use and reproduce for research and educational purposes scholarly and original works, whether owned by the University, Personnel, or Students for which it has provided resources, except for commercially available works and works created by Students as part of their academic coursework. Faculty members retain all legal rights to protect against the exploitation of copyrighted material owned by the Faculty member.

      2. Additional Rights. If the University wishes to secure additional rights in copyrighted work it shall so specify in writing at the time it provides resources beyond Resources Usually and Customarily Provided, as defined herein, or other consideration.

    3. Responsibilities of Personnel and Students.

      1. Assignment. For work to which the University has or had rights of ownership or use under this policy, Personnel and Students shall, upon request, execute all legal documents designed to assist the University, or its assignees, in proving or benefiting from such rights, as deemed appropriate by the University.

      2. External Collaborations. See Section IV.C and the Policy on Professional Commitment of Faculty, USM Policy II-3.10.

      3. Use of Copyrighted Materials. All Personnel and Students are responsible for complying with University guidance on the fair use of copyrighted material and for complying with the requirements of copyright law, including obtaining required permissions to use copyrighted material when required by law.

    4. Responsibilities of the University.

      1. Agreement Regarding Use of Resources Beyond Resources Usually and Customarily Provided. When the University authorizes or directs efforts to create a work or works using University resources beyond Resources Usually and Customarily Provided, it shall enter into a written agreement addressing the extent of use of resources, the schedule for the project (if appropriate), control over the work and its revisions, and ownership of the work. When the work done by Personnel routinely involves resources beyond Resources Usually and Customarily Provided, compliance with this section may be accomplished by including the required terms in an employment agreement.

      2. Sharing of Revenue. The University shall remit to creators or their assignees or heirs, their share of Revenue from copyrights as specified in Section XI.A. of this policy. 

      3. Use of Copyrighted Materials. The University shall develop and disseminate guidance on the use of copyrighted materials, which shall address fair use generally, as well as additional limitations on copyright pertaining to library, educational, research, and scholarly purposes as well as fair use exceptions.

  6. Patents and Inventions

    1. Ownership

      1. University Ownership.

        1. Within Scope of Employment. The University owns inventions created by Personnel within the Scope of Employment. 

        2. Use of University Resources. The University owns inventions created by Personnel, Graduate Students, or Professional Students with the use of University resources.

        3. Signed Agreements. The University owns all inventions made by Personnel or Students under Sponsored Research Agreements and as stated in written agreements.

      2. Creator Ownership.

        1. Outside Scope of Employment. Personnel, Graduate Students and Professional Students own patent rights to inventions conceived and first reduced to practice outside the Scope of Employment and without the use of University resources and not subject to Sponsored Research Agreements or other written agreements.

        2. Student Ownership. Undergraduate, non-degree, and not-for-credit Students own inventions they create, unless the invention is subject to another provision of this section.

    2. Responsibilities of Personnel and Students.

      1. Disclosure. Personnel and Students shall disclose inventions which are subject to University ownership, to the President or designee in a timely manner, fully, and in writing. When uncertain about the University’s rights, Personnel and Students shall disclose.

      2. External Collaborations. In accord with Section IV.C., Personnel and Students may not: (a) sign patent agreements or other documents (e.g., invention reports, licenses, assignments, Material Transfer Agreements, or Confidential Disclosure Agreements) which abrogate the University's rights; (b) make unauthorized use of the name of the University; or (c) transfer material relating to intellectual property outside the University, except pursuant to a properly authorized Material Transfer Agreement. See also the Policy on Professional Commitment of Faculty, USM Policy II-3.10.

      3. Assignment. As to an invention in which the University has a right to ownership or use, the inventor, upon request, shall execute promptly all contracts, assignments, waivers or other legal documents necessary to vest in the University, or its assignees, any or all rights to the invention, including assignment of any patents or patent applications relating to the invention.

    3. Responsibilities of University.

      1. Timely Evaluation. The University shall evaluate inventions disclosed in accordance with Section VI.B.1, and shall do so with reasonable promptness and in good faith. The University shall decide whether to seek legal protection of its ownership rights, such as filing for patent protection; the scope of patent protection; and whether and how to pursue, limit, or abandon commercialization. The University may at any time decide not to pursue or to abandon the pursuit of patenting and/or commercialization of any invention in which it has an interest.

      2. Timely Information. The University shall inform inventors in a timely manner about substantive decisions regarding protection, commercialization and/or disposition of inventions disclosed in accordance with Section VI.B.1. Terms of agreements which constitute proprietary business information may be treated as confidential by the University in accordance with applicable law. The University shall notify inventors promptly when it decides either not to pursue, or to abandon pursuit of, all efforts to commercialize an invention. 

      3. Commercialization. The University, at its discretion and consistent with the public interest, may license intellectual property to the inventors and other entities on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis. Potential licensees must demonstrate technical and business capability to commercialize the intellectual property. Any license that allows the licensee to enforce patent rights against infringement should include terms to ensure a pathway to commercialization. Agreements with inventors shall be subject to review and approval of conflict of interest issues in accordance with applicable University policy.  

      4. Assignment of Ownership. The University may assign ownership to the inventors as allowed by law, subject to the rights of sponsors and to the retention by the University of a license which at a minimum shall grant the University the right to use intellectual property in its internally administered programs of teaching, research, and public service on a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive basis. The University may retain more than the minimum license rights, and assignment or license may be subject to additional terms and conditions, such as Revenue sharing with the University or reimbursement of the costs of legal protection. The University shall negotiate promptly, upon written request by the inventors, the transfer to the inventors of the University’s interest in any invention that it has chosen not to protect or commercialize, subject to any legal obligation to offer its interest to a sponsor, licensee, or another institution with rights to the invention before it can agree to negotiate the transfer of the University’s interest in an invention to the inventors.

      5. Sharing of Revenue. The University shall remit to the inventors or their assignees or heirs, their share of Revenue from inventions as specified in Section XI.B. of this policy. 

  7. Computer Programs and Software

    1. Ownership.

      1. University Ownership.

        1. Within the Scope of Employment. The University owns computer programs and software created by Personnel within the Scope of Employment. However, Faculty own computer programs and software created within the Scope of Employment, except when covered by a written agreement.

        2. Use of University Resources. The University owns computer programs and software created by Personnel, Graduate Students, or Professional Students with the use of University resources. However, faculty own computer programs and software created within the Scope of Employment, except when covered by a written agreement.

        3. Signed Agreements. The University owns all computer programs and software created or made by Personnel or Students under Sponsored Research Agreements and as stated in written agreements.

      2. Personnel Ownership.

        1. Outside Scope of Employment. Personnel, Graduate Students, and Professional Students own software and computer programs conceived and first reduced to practice, and/or authored, outside the Scope of Employment and without the use of University resources and not subject to Sponsored Research Agreements or other written agreements.

        2. Student Ownership. Undergraduate, non-degree, and not-for-credit Students own computer programs and software they create unless the computer program or software is subject to another provision of this section.

    2. Responsibilities of Personnel and Students.

      1. Disclosure. Personnel and Students shall disclose computer programs and software that are subject to University ownership to the President or the designee in a timely manner, fully, and in writing. When uncertain about the University’s rights, Personnel and Students shall disclose. Disclosure may include deposit of a digital-time-stamped copy of the software program, with appropriate annotations.

      2. External Collaborations. See Section IV.C. See also the Policy on Professional Commitment of Faculty, USM BOR Policy II-3.10. 

      3. Assignment. As to a computer program or software in which the University has a right to ownership or use, the creator, upon request, shall execute promptly all contracts, assignments, waivers or other legal documents necessary to vest in the University, or its assignees, any or all rights to the computer program or software, including assignment of any patents, copyrights, patent applications, or copyright applications, relating to the work.

    3. Responsibilities of University.

      1. Timely Evaluation. The University shall evaluate computer programs and software disclosed in accordance with Section VII.B.1. and shall do so with reasonable promptness and in good faith. The University shall decide whether to seek legal protection of its ownership rights, such as filing for patent protection, the scope of patent protection, and whether and how to pursue, limit, or abandon commercialization. The University may at any time decide not to pursue or to abandon the pursuit of patenting and/or commercialization of any computer program or software in which it has an interest.

      2. Timely Information. The University shall inform creators in a timely manner about substantive decisions regarding protection, commercialization and/or disposition of computer programs or software disclosed in accordance with Section VII.B.1. Terms of agreements which constitute proprietary business information may be treated as confidential by the University in accordance with applicable law. The University shall notify creators promptly when it decides either not to pursue, or to abandon pursuit of, all efforts to commercialize computer programs or software.

      3. Commercialization by Creators. The University, at its discretion and consistent with the public interest, may license intellectual property to the creators on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis. Creators must demonstrate technical and business capability to commercialize the intellectual property. Agreements with creators shall be subject to review and approval of conflict of interest issues in accordance with applicable University policy.

      4. Assignment of Ownership. The University may assign ownership to the creators as allowed by law, subject to the rights of sponsors and to the retention by the University of a license which at a minimum shall grant the University the right to use intellectual property in its internally administered programs of teaching, research and public service on a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive basis. The University may retain more than the minimum license rights, and assignment or license may be subject to additional terms and conditions, such as Revenue sharing with the University or reimbursement of the costs of legal protection. The University shall negotiate promptly, upon written request by the creators, the transfer to the creators of the University’s interest in any computer program or software that it has chosen not to protect or commercialize, subject to any legal obligation to offer its interest to a sponsor, licensee, or another institution with rights to the intellectual property before it can agree to negotiate the transfer of the University’s interest in intellectual property to the creators.

      5. Sharing of Revenue. The University shall remit to the creators or their assignees or heirs, their share of Revenue from computer programs or software as specified in Section XI.B. of this policy.

  8. Technology-mediated Instructional Materials

    • Section V, Copyrights, shall apply to any materials that may be considered to be technology-mediated instructional materials. 

  9. Other Types of Intellectual Property

    1. Tangible Research Property. The principles in Section VI that apply to inventions and patents also apply to tangible research property.

    2. Mask Works. The principles in Section VI that apply to inventions and patents also apply to mask works.

    3. Plant Varieties. The University owns and may protect or commercialize plant varieties according to the principles of Section VI.

    4. Trademarks, Service Marks, and Trade Dress. Trademarks, service marks, and trade dress may be created in association with an underlying license for another form of intellectual property, such as a patent or a plant variety (“associated with other intellectual property”), or independently, such as a university logo or symbol (“independently created”).

      1. Associated with Other Intellectual Property. The University owns a trademark, service mark or trade dress if it is associated with other intellectual property owned by the University.

      2. Independently Created. The University owns trademarks, service marks, and trade dress that are independently created by Personnel within the Scope of Employment, unless the University agrees otherwise in writing.

      3. Commercialization: The University may commercialize or license its trademarks, service marks and trade dress.

      4. Registration. The President or designee shall approve registration of trademarks or service marks, at the state or federal level.

  10. Interinstitutional Agreements

    1. Joint Appointments and Affiliations. This section applies when an individual has an appointment in and receives support for research or creative work from two or more System Institutions and when a Student or Student Employee is earning a degree in one System Institution but doing research or creative work in another.

      1. Ownership. When more than one System Institution can claim ownership to intellectual property under this policy, they own it jointly.

      2. Management Agreements. System Institutions that are or may become joint owners of intellectual property shall enter into agreements stating which institution will be responsible for management of the intellectual property. Universities are encouraged to negotiate standard agreements whenever possible. The President or designee shall be responsible for negotiating management agreements.

        1. Terms to be Addressed. The agreements shall state which institution will be responsible for prosecution of patent applications or other forms of intellectual property protection, which institution will license the intellectual property, how expenses and deductions from Revenue will be allocated, and how institutional net revenue will be shared. The distribution of each System Institution’s share of Net Revenue, Project Specific Costs and General Costs shall be addressed in the management agreement.

        2. Student Requirements. With regard to Students and Student Employees, agreements shall specify whether the degree-granting institution or the supporting institution will be responsible for managing intellectual property they create when that property is subject to university ownership.

      3. Responsibilities of Managing Institution. The university managing intellectual property under an agreement shall promptly inform the other institution or institutions about steps taken with regard to ownership. Such information shall include at minimum copies of the invention disclosure form, documents associated with filing for statutory protection, assignment of rights, and license agreements. If the managing institution decides not to proceed, the other owning university or universities shall have the right to assume responsibility as the managing institution.

      4. Distribution of Revenue. The managing institution shall distribute Revenue to the creators and share net revenue in all cases according to Section XI.

      5. Disputes. A President may ask the Chancellor to intercede if the System Institutions are unable to reach agreement or differ in their interpretation of an agreement.

    2. Joint Creators. This section applies when Personnel or Students from two or more System Institutions collaborate.

      1. Early Notification. As soon as collaborators from different System Institutions recognize that their efforts have resulted in, or are likely to result in, the creation of intellectual property subject to this policy, they shall inform their respective institutions that an agreement is needed.

      2. Agreements Govern. Signed agreements between System Institutions shall determine ownership of intellectual property, responsibility for managing it, and distribution of expenses and Revenue resulting from its development. System Institutions whose Personnel or Students are engaged in frequent collaboration are encouraged to negotiate standard agreements within the framework of this policy.

      3. Disputes. A President may ask the Chancellor to intercede if the System Institutions are unable to reach agreement or differ in their interpretation of the agreement. The Chancellor’s decision shall be final and binding on all parties.

  11. Revenue Sharing
    Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the creators of a work or inventors of an invention, each named creator or inventor shall receive equal shares of net Revenue.

    1. Copyrights. The University shall share with creators Revenue it receives from copyright of their work, subject to certain exceptions.
      1. Exceptions
        1. Scope of Employment. Revenue generated from work produced by non-faculty Personnel within the Scope of Employment is excluded from sharing. However, the University may elect, by written agreement or University policy, to pay up to fifty percent of net Revenue to such non-faculty Personnel.
        2. Contract. When a third party contract dictates apportionment of Revenue different from that specified in this policy, the terms of the contract govern.
        3. Equity. Equity shall be distributed in accord with Section XI.G.           
      2. Deductions from Revenue. The University shall make the following deductions from Revenue before distributing net Revenue (Section XI.A.3).
        1. Creators' Share. First, ten percent of Revenue shall be distributed among the creators of the work until the cumulative total reaches the limit set pursuant to this paragraph that was in effect during the fiscal year in which the University first received Revenue. The limit in FY2004 is $10,300 to be shared among the inventors. The Chancellor shall establish a new limit for each succeeding fiscal year by adjusting the previous year's limit by an amount reflecting the change in the Consumer Price Index during the last calendar year completed, rounded to the nearest $100.
        2. General Costs. Second, the University will deduct 30% of Revenue to cover the general cost of developing, obtaining, managing, and defending creative works, unless otherwise agreed to by the University and creators, in writing.
        3. Project Specific Costs. Third, the remaining 60% of the Revenue received from a work shall be applied to reimburse any specific, incremental expenses incurred by the University in obtaining and maintaining the copyright, and in developing, marketing, licensing, and defending the work. After reimbursement of the University’s expenses, Revenue may be used to reimburse costs incurred by creators on behalf of their own works but only if the University had authorized such expenses in advance in writing.
        4. Residual Creators’ Share. Fourth, after project specific costs have been paid in full, any remaining Revenue shall go to the creators until the threshold dollar amount has been paid, as specified above in Section XI.A.2.a.
      3. Distribution of Net Revenue. Net Revenue is the revenue remaining after deductions under XI.A.2.
        1. Creators’ Share. The University shall distribute among the creators fifty percent (50%) of the net Revenue it receives from their creative work unless applicable laws, regulations, provisions of grants or contracts, or signed agreements with creators provide otherwise.
        2. University’s Share. The University shall receive 50% of the net Revenue. Each University shall establish guidelines for the use of its share of the net Revenue. Net Revenue received on account of copyrighted work shall be dedicated to research, scholarship, creative work, and related academic activities.
        3. Timely Distribution. The University shall distribute accrued Revenue due creators under this policy at least annually. Distribution will be made along with a statement of related income and expenses.
    2. Patents and Computer Programs and Software. The University shall share with inventors or creators Revenue it receives from their inventions or creations as provided in this section.
      1. Exceptions
        1. Contract. When a third-party contract dictates apportionment of Revenue different from that specified in this policy, the terms of the agreement shall govern.
        2. Equity. Equity shall be distributed in accord with Section XI.G.
      2. Deductions from Revenue. The University shall make the following deductions from Revenue before distributing net Revenue (Section XI.B.3).
        1. Creators’ or Inventors’ Share. First, ten percent (10%) of Revenue shall be distributed among the creators or inventors until the cumulative total reaches the limit set pursuant to this paragraph that was in effect during the fiscal year in which the University first received Revenue. The limit in FY2004 is $10,300 to be shared among the inventors or creators. The Chancellor shall establish a new limit for each succeeding fiscal year by adjusting the previous year's limit by an amount reflecting the change in the Consumer Price Index during the last calendar year completed, rounded to the nearest $100.
        2. General Costs. Second, the University shall deduct thirty percent (30%) of Revenue to cover the general cost of developing, obtaining, managing, and defending inventions or creative work, unless otherwise agreed to by inventors or creators and the University, in writing.
        3. Project Specific Costs. Third, the remaining sixty percent (60%) of Revenue received from a creative work, patent, or invention shall be applied to reimburse any specific, incremental expenses incurred by the University in obtaining and maintaining the patent and in developing, marketing, licensing, and defending the patent or licensable invention or creative work. After reimbursement of the University’s expenses, Revenue may be used to reimburse costs incurred by inventors or creators on behalf of their own works but only if the University had authorized such expenses in advance in writing.
        4. Residual Creators’ Share. Fourth, after project specific costs have been paid in full, any remaining Revenue shall go to the creators until the threshold dollar amount has been paid, as specified above in Section XI.B.2.a.
      3. Distribution of Net Revenue. Net Revenue is the Revenue remaining after deductions under XI.B.2.
        1. Creators’ Share. The University shall distribute among the inventors or creators fifty percent (50%) of the net Revenue it receives from their inventions or creations unless applicable laws, regulations, provisions of grants or contracts, or signed agreements with inventors or creators provide otherwise.
        2. University's Share. The University shall receive fifty percent (50%) of the net Revenue received on account of an invention to the inventors’ College shall be dedicated to research and to the promotion of patenting and patents.
      4. Timely Distribution. The University shall distribute Revenue due creators under this policy at least annually. Distribution will be made along with a statement of related income and expenses.
    3. Tangible Research Property, Mask Works, and Plant Varieties. When tangible research property, mask works, or plant varieties are licensed, Revenue shall be distributed in the same manner that Revenue is distributed under Section XI.B.
    4. Trademarks, Service Marks, and Trade Dress.
      1. Creators’ Share.
        1. Associated with Other Intellectual Property. Revenue received from commercialization of a trademark, service mark, or trade dress that is related to an intellectual property license shall be shared with creators of the trademark, service mark or trade dress, as specified in Section XI.B.
        2. Independently created trademark, service mark, or trade dress. Except as provided herein or unless subject to prior written agreement between the creators and the University, the University will not share the Revenue from commercialization of a trademark, service mark, or trade dress with the individuals who created the trademark, service mark, or trade dress.
      2. University Ownership. Revenue received from commercialization of a trademark, service mark, or trade dress licensed independently and not directly related to another form of intellectual property license shall not be shared and shall belong to the University. 
    5. Joint Appointment. In situations covered by section X., the University's share of net revenue shall be divided equally among the Universities or as otherwise provided by written agreement. 
    6. Joint Creators. If joint creators are from different Universities, the University's share of net Revenue shall be divided equally unless determined by signed agreements as provided in Section X .B.2. 
    7. Equity.
      1. Issuance of Shares. Equity may be issued separately to the University and the inventors or creators.
      2. Distribution of Shares. Equity in a commercial venture received as consideration for intellectual property rights shall be shared equally between the University and the creators, unless a different distribution is negotiated in an agreement signed by the University and the creators of the relevant intellectual property.
      3. Timely Distribution. When the University receives all shares directly, as soon as practicable after the University receives equity, and subject to the creators receiving any conflict of interest exemptions that must be granted and complying with any conditions for those exemptions, the University shall transfer equity shares to the creators. The University and creators shall have independence in their exercise of equity holder privileges within the constraints of law, policy, specific exemption under Maryland law from the State Ethics Law, and contractual agreements.
      4. Unqualified Persons. Personnel or Students not qualified to hold the equity under applicable law shall designate a qualified person to receive the equity. If no designee is named within thirty days of a written request by the University to do so, the right to a share of the equity shall be forfeited to the University. 

     

  12. Administration

    1. Implementation.

      1. Background. This policy was adapted from the University System of Maryland Policy on Intellectual Property (BOR IV-3-20)  

      2. USM Approval. The President will provide the Chancellor with a copy of the University's policy for approval prior to initial adoption as well as prior to any subsequent revision. (Until such time as the Chancellor provides written approval of the initial University document, this USM document shall apply to the University. Subsequent revisions shall not go into effect until approved by the Chancellor in writing.) 

      3. Documentation of Procedure. The President will provide the Chancellor with a copy of the University's implementation procedures for the record. 

    2. Authority to Subcontract. The University may enter into contracts with third parties in connection with the development, administration, and protection of its intellectual property. 

    3. Special Cases. 

      1. Issues not addressed. The Board of Regents recognizes that special cases will arise that are not specifically covered by this policy. In such cases, the President may make a decision on how to proceed and report that decision to the Chancellor. Alternatively, the President may submit such cases to the Chancellor or designee for resolution.

      2. Policy waivers. Only the Chancellor may waive any provision of the USM Policy or of any University’s approved policy on intellectual property.  

  13. Reporting
    The President shall report annually to the Chancellor and the Board of Regents on intellectual property activity at the University. The report, in a format to be determined by the Chancellor, shall include data for the preceding year on disclosures, patent applications, patent awards, licenses, and start-up companies, distinguishing when appropriate between Maryland-based companies and those outside of the State. The report shall also include data on revenue and expenditures associated with the University’s technology transfer function. 

Related Policies

USM Policy IV–3.20 – Policy on Intellectual Property
USM Policy IV–3.00 – Policy on Patents (remains applicable only for intellectual property disclosures made before July 1, 2002)
USM Policy IV–3.10 – Policy on Copyrights (remains applicable only for works copyrighted before July 1, 2002)
USM Policy II–1.00 – Policy on Appointment, Rank, and Tenure of Faculty
TU Policy 02-01.00: Appointment, Rank and Tenure of Faculty 
USM Policy II–3.10 – Policy on Professional Commitment of Faculty

Approval Date: Approved by the President, 04/11/2002; Approved by the Office of the Chancellor, USM, 07/08/2002    
Effective Date: 07/08/2002
Amended Date: 03/01/2022

Intellectual Property

Term Glossary

(This section is provided for informational purposes only, and is NOT part of the policy.)

Commercial venture — a start-up company, limited partnership, joint venture or any other entity that has obtained an option or a license to university technology.

Confidential Disclosure Agreement or Non-Disclosure Agreement — An agreement or section of an agreement that prevents parties to the agreement from releasing knowledge or information without the other's permission. 

Copyright — The intangible property right granted by statute for an original work fixed in a tangible means of expression. A copyright provides the owner with the following exclusive rights over a work: to reproduce, to prepare derivative works, to distribute, to perform publicly, and to display publicly. Copyright comes into existence immediately at the time the work is fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

Creative works — "Original works of authorship" that are fixed in a tangible form of expression that may be protected by copyright. The fixation need not be directly perceptible so long as it may be communicated with the aid of a machine or device. Copyrightable works include the following categories: (1) literary works; (2) musical works, including any accompanying words; (3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music; (4) pantomimes and choreographic works; (5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works; (6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works; (7) sound recordings; and (8) architectural works. 

Creator — Refers to an individual or group of individuals who make, conceive, reduce to practice, or otherwise make a substantive intellectual contribution to the creation of intellectual property. "Creator" follows the definition of "inventor" used in U.S. patent law and the definition of "author" used in the U.S. Copyright Act. 

Disclose — Formally record the essence of a potentially patentable concept, the circumstances in which it was conceived, the persons participating in the invention, and the steps taken to reduce it to practice, if applicable, in accord with the requirements of U.S. patent law for establishing precedence. 

Equity or equity shares — Shares of common or preferred stock, warrants, options, convertible instruments, units of a limited partnership, or any other instruments conveying ownership interest in a commercial venture, or options or rights to purchase an ownership interest. 

Intellectual property (“IP”) — The intangible value developed by human creativity that is protected by the legal mechanisms of patents, trademarks, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets, mask works, and plant variety protection certificates. Rights derived from legislation include ownership and disposition, including commercialization. IP encompasses, for example, discoveries, inventions (patentable or not), traditional scholarly works, software, research data, tangible research materials, methods, processes, patents, know-how, trade secrets, trade and service marks, and copyrights. IP also includes the physical embodiments: for example, models, machines, devices, designs, instrumentation, circuits, computer programs, visualizations, biological materials, chemicals, other compositions of matter, and plants.

Invention — Any potentially patentable new and useful process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter or any new and useful improvement to the same.

License — A contract in which an intellectual property owner grants permission to exercise one or more of the rights that an owner holds. 

Mask work — A series of related images representing a predetermined, three-dimensional pattern of metallic, insulating, or semiconducting layers of a semiconductor chip product. 

Material Transfer Agreement — A contract covering transfer of physical possession and use of tangible research property into or out of the university. 

Patent (U.S. only) — The intangible property right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention in the United States or importing the invention into the United States. In order to obtain patent protection, an invention must be useful, novel and unobvious. A patent can be obtained in the U.S. only by making an application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Royalty — Payment made to an owner of intellectual property for the privilege of practicing a right held by the owner of the intellectual property under applicable law. 

Software — A computer program, including, without limitation, microcode, subroutines, and operating systems, source code, algorithms, processes, formulae, or flow charts, regardless of the form of expression or object in which it is embodied, together with users’ manuals and other accompanying explanatory materials.

Tangible research property — Includes the physical embodiments of intellectual effort such as models, machines, devices, designs, apparatus, instrumentation, circuits, computer programs and visualizations, biological materials, chemicals, other compositions of matter, plants, and records of research. Tangible research property is distinct from intangible properties such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets, mask works, and plant variety protection certificates. Individual items of tangible research property may be associated with one or more intangible properties. 

Trade dress — Distinctive and unique packaging, color combinations, building designs, product styles, and overall presentations identifying the source, product, producer, or distributor of goods and services where the appearance distinguishes the product or business from other similar products or businesses but is not distinctive or specific enough to be considered a trademark. 

Trademarks and service marks — Distinctive words or graphic symbols identifying the source, product, producer, or distributor of goods and services.

How to Request the Policy PDF

This online version of the policy may include updated links and names of departments. To request a PDF of the original, signed version of this policy, email the Office of the General Counsel, .