Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 705]

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702

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[November 18

present. T h e Committee voted to recommend the nomination of Mrs. Glenn E. Plumb, of Chicago, as the representative of the University of Illinois on the Medical Center Commission.

On motion of Mr. Jensen, this appointment was made as recommended.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PATENTS

Mr. Davis, for the Committee on Patents, presented the following report:

Mr. Chester Dams, Chairman 1 Mr. Homer Mat Adams, Member I Committee Mr. Park Livingston, Member J

GENTLEMEN :

•', on Patents

"

I am transmitting a tentative draft of a cooperative research agreement with the Porete Manufacturing Co., of N o r t h Arlington, New Jersey, covering a cooperative investigation of composite steel and concrete construction. T h e r e is also enclosed a copy of a letter from Thomas H. McDonald, Commissioner of Public Roads, Public Roads Administration, Washington, D.C., which is selfexplanatory and shows the continuing interest of the Federal Public Roads Administration in the type of research contemplated. Dean Enger and I have undertaken to write this contract in the light of the discussion which took place between you and me just before the latest meeting of the Board of Trustees in Chicago. Specifically, this agreement differs from previous contracts in the following important respects: 1. W e are suggesting in paragraph (3) a charge of 20% to be deducted and to be used to take care of any obligations which may arise against the University on account of accidents, sick leave, death benefits, and retirement compensation ; 2. W e suggest in paragraph (6) a departure from prior contract procedure and stipulate that if the contributor pays the cost of procuring a patent it will receive a non-exclusive free license; but if within 20 days after notice of the discovery the contributor elects not to pay the cost of procuring patent protection, the University may do so, whereupon the contributor will receive a nonexclusive license only, on terms substantially similar to those accorded other licensees; 3. W e suggest in paragraph (5) a new provision to the effect that the publication of discoveries which are or seem likely to involve patents be delayed until a reasonable opportunity has been accorded the University and the contributor to obtain patent protection. This, we are told, will be very acceptable to contributors without involving any material sacrifice on our part. I suggested the inclusion of a provision that special equipment purchased for the investigation out of funds contributed by the sponsor shall become the property of the University after the completion of the investigation. Dean Enger thought that at least in this particular contract we should not insert this provision. H e said that in many cases the contributor was not interested in the equipment, but sometimes the contributor might purchase, for example, an adding machine, which it would want after the investigation was complete and which we probably would not particularly need anyhow. In this connection it should be stated that we contemplate, when we make our report, which will be soon, recommending the classification of research projects on a basis discussed at the meeting in Chicago, and that in certain types, a stipulation of the kind mentioned be included. In general, this contract represents our ideas at the present time as to the type of contract which should be used when a research is sponsored by a commercial concern of the type of the Porete Manufacturing Co. W e a r e asking that your committee give consideration to this contract and let me know whether we may offer it to the prospective sponsor as it is, and if not, with what alterations or additions. Both the College of Engineering and the prospective sponsor are anxious to begin the work at the earliest possible date.