Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1936 [PAGE 593]

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59°

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[March 10

POLICY REGARDING CERTAIN K I N D S OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS

43. T h e University is frequently asked by corporations or individuals to undertake problems of research that have a direct bearing upon the business of the corporation or the individuals making the request. Such requests are sometimes accompanied with a statement that, since the corporation or individual in question is paying the expense of the investigation, it or he should have the exclusive benefit of the results. In order that there may be no misunderstanding about the attitude of the University on such matters, the following declaration of policy has been adopted: (a) When the University undertakes a scientific investigation or piece of research, whether of its own initiative or at the request of outside parties, the results of the investigation are the property of the University, to be given to the public for the advancement of knowledge. T h e University will not in any case make an agreement with an individual or corporation to give it permanently the exclusive benefits of the results of such investigation or research, even tho the investigation or research be conducted with money contributed by said individual or corporation. Consent for any publicity by the donor of funds, in advance of publicity by the University, must be obtained from the Board of Trustees. Reports of progress shall be sent to the members of the Patent Committee of the Board at the same time as to the donor. (b) The University stands ready at all times, within the limits of its means and its responsibilities, to cooperate with any individual or corporation in helping it to solve its specific technical problems and to overcome difficulties or accomplish improvements in its processes in all cases in which the problem to be solved is peculiar to the individual corporation asking help from the University and is not a problem the results of which are in the nature of information which, if disseminated among the people, could be utilized by the public at large as a means of advancing knowledge or improving conditions of life. However, when the University undertakes such cooperation, it will be in return for payment, according to terms agreed upon between the University and the other party concerned. (c) It is agreed by the outside party or parties that they will not under any circumstances use the name of the University of Illinois in any advertisement, whether with reference to the cooperative agreement or any other matter. (d) Contracts for all agreements for cooperative research shall contain the following clause or its substantial equivalent: It is agreed by the parties to this contract that all results of experimental work, including patentable discoveries, carried on under the direction of the scientific staff of the University, belong to the University and to the public and should be used and controlled so as to produce the greatest benefit to the public. It is understood and agreed that if patentable discoveries grow out of the investigation and such discoveries have commercial value, the party of the second part will receive preferential consideration as a prospective licensee, with a view to compensating the second party in part for the assistance rendered in the investigation.

PATENTS ON DISCOVERIES OR INVENTIONS

44. ( a ) The principle is recognized that the results of experimental work carried on by or under the direction of the scientific or teaching staffs of the University, and having the expense thereof paid from the university funds or from funds under the control of the University, belong to the University and the public and should be used and controlled in ways to produce the greatest benefit to the University and the public. (b) In case of valuable discoveries and inventions resulting from experimental work or of discoveries and inventions which may be expected to have a basic relation to other discoveries or inventions of commercial importance, the practice is hereby established of taking out patents to be controlled by the University; and any member of the scientific or teaching staffs of the University who has made a valuable discovery or invention as the direct result of his regular duties on university time and at university expense, may be re-