In this webinar, Selina Hinchcliffe and Nick Smee introduced some of the key questions to ask when first considering collaboration, plus the various IP ownership and licensing options that you need to contemplate. Visit our webpage for more information and resources - https://www.brownejacobson.com/sectors-and-services/services/intellectual-property

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R&D Collaboration agreements:
how to deal with IP

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Connect with Nick Smee and Selina Hinchliffe
nick.smee@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2122
R&D Collaboration agreements:
how to deal with IP
selina.hinchliffe@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2199

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Technology continues to expand into
new areas as manufacturing processes
are re-imagined and everyday items
become connected. Consequently
businesses in all sectors are
increasingly looking to collaborate with
other parties in order to develop next
generation products and services.
E.g. Autonomous Vehicles
Setting the scene

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Initial considerations:
• What are you trying to achieve?
• How are you going to work
together?
• Commercial model
• Where?
• Equipment
• Who brings what / does what
• Grant Fund vs straight
collaborations
Setting the scene

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1. Shortening time to innovate by
combining existing IPR
2. Sharing risk - development / supply
/ exploitation
3. Reducing costs - dependent on
ownership cost various aspects of IP
split e.g. development / filing /
enforcement
4. Traditional advantages
5. Incentives - innovation creates an
environment for collaboration
Benefits

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The issue of ownership will almost
always be dictated by:
• the parties respective businesses
• the parties respective initiatives
• the nature of the project (funding)
• the parties bargaining power
Ownership –
how to decide?

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The various ownership routes you can
take:
• Joint ownership – difficulties in
practice
• Single party ownership
• Each party owns what they create
(WARNING: CONTAMINATION)
Ownership

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Other parties to assist
in a)obtaining patents
and b)prosecuting or
defending
infringement
proceedings
Assignor may keep rights
to file patents
applications, commence
enforcement proceedings,
grant back of licence to
use/exploit the rights
Must assign
rights to it on a
prospective basis
as they arise
Notification of
inventions, know
how or works
arising from the
research
IP vesting in
one party

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Joint Ownership:
• Responsibility for enforcement /
costs
• Filing, costs
• Usage rights, what can and can’t do,
agree in advance
• Fields / territorial?
• What share of ownership?
creatorship / funding
Ownership

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Own what you create:
• What defines this?
• Risk if built on Background IP
• Contamination
• Interdependence of technologies
• Assignments may be required
• Fields / territorial
Ownership

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Licence during the project:
• To the extent needed to perform
the project.
• Which IP?
• Define relevant Background IP
(in a schedule); or
• Limit disclosure
Licence provisions

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Licence after the project:
• To publish
• For internal R&D purposes
• To make/distribute/market/sell
Products
• In particular territory/field
• Non-compete provisions
https://www.brownejacobson.com/tra
ining-and-resources/training/training-
videos/2018/05/competition-law-and-
ip-agreements
Licence provisions

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• Use an IP Matrix?
• Beware drafting pitfalls.
https://www.brownejacobson.com/tra
ining-and-resources/training/training-
videos/2018/02/ip-licensing-how-to-
avoid-the-common-pitfalls
Licence provisions

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• Gatekeepers for initial baseline of IP
and inputs
• Decisions on new IP shared with
project – background/ sideground
• Technology board for just IP?
• Steering committee
• Funding control
• Unanimous/ majority?
• Disputes/ governing laws
Governance

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Warranties:
• IP provided ‘as is’?
• Non-infringement warranty?
Indemnities:
• ‘To the extent that’ vs ‘related to’
• Consider exclusions and liability
caps
Warranties & indemnities

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R and D
Agreement
Protection
-who registers
-who bears the
cost
-who manages
Who will own or
have right to use
the IPRs in
technology it
brings to the
collaboration
Agreement must
protect each party
from claims that
technology
contributed by the
other infringes third
party rights
Enforcement
-who can enforce
rights
-who bears cost
Address
ownership of
new IPRs arising
out of
collaboration
Rights of each
party to exploit
the IPRs arising
out of
collaboration?
Confidentiality –
Preserve pre
existing
technology and
results

17. Join the conversation @brownejacobsonJoin the conversation @brownejacobson
Connect with Nick Smee and Selina Hinchliffe
nick.smee@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2122
R&D Collaboration agreements:
how to deal with IP
selina.hinchliffe@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2199