A basic aim of GIT’s intellectual property policy is to promote the progress of science and technology, to assure that discoveries and inventions are used to benefit the public, and to provide appropriate royalty revenues to the Institute inventor.
GIT has an interest in all inventions of its personnel which are conceived of or first actually reduced to practice as part of or as a result of a Institute administered program of research; activities within the scope of the inventor’s employment by the Institute; or activities involving the use of Institute time, facilities, or materials. This includes all funded research projects whether from public or private sources.
GIT has a right to ownership of any invention in which it has an interest. In cases where joint inventorship results from collaborative agreements with industrial sponsors, joint ownership terms are negotiated as appropriate. The Institute will normally grant the right of first refusal to the sponsor for an exclusive or nonexclusive license. Where GIT is a subcontractor to an industrial firm under a federally funded program, this policy remains the same with the exception that the federal government is granted non-exclusive rights for government use only. In addition, GIT must comply with certain government reporting and licensing requirements of the Bayh-Dole Act (P.L. 96-517) for inventions resulting from federally funded research. Further information about patent, copyright and licensing policies can be obtained by contacting the Office of Technlogy Licensing.