Comprehensive Standard #3.2.14 (Policies Regarding Ownership)

The institution's policies are clear concerning ownership of materials, compensation, copyright issues, and the use of revenue derived from the creation and production of all intellectual property. This applies to students, faculty, and staff.

Compliance Certification

The College of William and Mary is in compliance with this comprehensive standard.

Explanation

The College's policies with regard to ownership of materials, compensation, copyright issues, and the use of revenue derived from intellectual property are presented on the Provost's Office webpage, and more specifically, on the Policies and Procedures site. The following policies are especially pertinent: Revised Policy on Intellectual Property, Policy and Guidelines for the Use of Copyrighted Works, and Resolution on the Assignment of Materials From Which Faculty Derive Royalties.

The College revised its 1987 intellectual property policy during academic year 2000-2001 following sustained discussions involving the Provost Office, the Office of Economic Development and Corporate Affairs, and the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Faculty Assembly. The revised policy was approved by the Board of Visitors on 16 November 2001 and remains in force. Both the 1987 and revised policies define ownership rights on all forms of intellectual property produced by students, faculty, and staff. The policies also provide explicit procedures for the distribution of revenues derived from the production of intellectual property. The College of William and Mary Intellectual Property Policy also can be found on the websites of the Grants Office (Grants and Research Administration Policy Handbook) and the Technology Transfer Office, see the Policies hyperlink. The College is currently pursuing new ways of making technology transfer and commercialization more efficient. In February 2004, the College signed a three-year memorandum of agreement with the UVA Patent Foundation under which the Foundation will provide administrative and marketing support for William and Mary inventions. The agreement will free the College's Technology transfer Director to focus on those tasks that require the greatest interaction with inventors and on license negotiations. Much of the potential benefit of interaction with companies, however, can occur through collaborative research, joint grant funding, and equipment transfers in a "partnership approach. The College is engaged actively in the partnership approach in several areas of materials science and marine science.

The Technology Transfer Office website provides information on patents and intellectual property, materials transfer agreements, consulting, economic development and other issues relevant to ownership of intellectual property.

References