IP Policy
SFU's IP Policy (R30.03) is a creator-owned policy that allows creators to maintain control of their intellectual property and elect how/if they wish to interact with the TLO.
This is designed primarily to incentivize and empower the creators of IP to harness the creation and translate the technology from Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµlabs to the world at large.
Conversely, it also provides industry partners with incentivized terms to collaborate, partner and/or license the technology from the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµcreators to allow for a more streamlined pathway of technology transfer.
Who is bound by the IP Policy?
SFU's IP Policy applies to all University Members. University Members include employees and other individuals, students, post-doctoral fellows and research grant employees, affiliated with the university who use facilities, resources or funds administered by the university in the course of university-related scholarly and creative activities. This is further articulated in the full policy R 30.03.
Does a student own their IP?
Generally, a student owns their created IP—unless the student has signed an agreement specifying an alternate arrangement of IP rights. For example, an alternate arrangement may include a student being hired as a research assistant, whereby the student signed a Research Assistant agreement with their supervisor having an IP section specifying alternate IP rights distribution. This is further articulated in the full policy R 30.03.
Does a professor own their IP?
Generally, a professor does own their created IP—unless the professor has signed an agreement specifying an alternate arrangement of IP rights. For example, an alternate arrangement may include a professor conducting researched under a sponsored reserach agreement having having an IP section specifying alternate IP rights distribution. This is further articulated in the full policy R 30.03.
If I own my own IP, does Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµtake any Revenue if I Commercialize myself?
If an Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµcreator commercializes themselves, without the assistance of the TLO, the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµcreator shares 15% of annual Revenue received by each of the creators (in excess of $25,000) with SFU. This is further articulated in Appendix A of R 30.03.
What are the Terms offered by the TLO for Commercialization Aid?
If an Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµcreator seeks aid from the TLO, and the TLO approves granting aid to the Creator, the TLO will provide a host of commercializatio services (including full payment and management of IP) and provide the following revenue sharing terms:
- Revenue will be shared 50:50 between the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµcreator and SFU, until Direct Costs are recovered
- Upon recovery of Direct Costs, 70% of the Revenue will be shared with the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµcreator and 30% will be shared with SFU
This is further articulated in Appendix A of R 30.03.
Learn more about IP & SFU's IP Policy
Take TLO's Canvas courses, “Intellectual Property Primerâ€� and “R 30.03 (Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµIP Policy) Overview."
These courses take less than an hour to complete and provide the subscriber with a overview of all types of IP, as well as an overview of how SFU’s IP Policy works. This is a mixed media course that includes video, text and exercises.
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