The Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Group conducted a survey and breakout discussion to assess the prevalence and negotiation dynamics of various IP provisions in research agreements. Survey responses, representing both funding (27.5%) and performing (72.5%) entities, indicated that some topics, such as invention disclosure and conflict of interest policies, are rarely contentious and typically resolved easily. In contrast, areas like the ownership of new IP, publication rights, sharing of research results, and especially the roles of funders and performers in licensing, as well as provisions for patient access and revenue sharing, more frequently become negotiation points that can be challenging to resolve.
To address the more complex and frequently debated topics, the group organized further work into sub-subgroups focusing on specific issues, particularly those identified in groups 3 and 4. These include the roles and collaboration of funders and performers in licensing arrangements, the scope and definition of intellectual property, access to background IP, provisions ensuring patient access, and mechanisms for licensing revenue sharing. Leadership roles have been assigned for each topic, and the group is seeking additional participation, particularly from funding organizations, to advance these focused discussions and achieve consensus-based recommendations.
