Review PoliciesProcess of Collaboration at the University of Maryland
Review Applicable Policies
Intellectual Property
The University of Maryland policy on intellectual property is to assure that the benefits of University research and scholarship,
which include intellectual property, are fairly and fully disseminated to benefit the public; create an environment that encourages
and recognizes the creative efforts of faculty, students and personnel; and generate resources to support the University's primary mission.
Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Commitment
Conflict of interest typically involves potential financial gain or personal benefit to an employee or related individuals. Conflict of commitment typically arises when otherwise positive activities may compromise the fulfillment of an employee's basic job responsibilities to the University.
The intent of this policy is, in part, to provide guidance that will enable extra-university liaisons,
such as scholars, artists, consultants, participants in research and development ventures, advisors to government entities,
and in other capacities that relate to their professional expertise, to continue while avoiding situations that could harm
the individual and/or the University through the reality or perception of ethical, legal, or financial conflicts.
Although such conflicts may arise most often in connection with outside activities, the policy and the procedures relating to them
apply to internal activities as well.
Export Control
Information about Export Control and how the University of Maryland and the Office of Research Administration and Advancement
deal with export control issues can be found here.
Licensing
It is the university's responsibility to bring into public use any commercially applicable discovery made in its laboratories
and to ensure that discoveries are properly protected and pursued to full development. While patents are intended to promote progress
and serve the public, patents and technology transfer also benefit inventors and the university through recognition and monetary returns.
A major objective of the Office of Technology Commercialization is to strive to match campus inventions with potential sponsors or licensees.
Income from up-front payments, purchases of tangible research property, option fees, license fees and royalties negotiated with the university
are distributed according to a formula defined in the University of Maryland Patent Policy
Material Transfer
A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contract that governs the transfer of tangible research materials between two organizations,
when the recipient intends to use it for his or her own research purposes, and when no research collaboration between scientists is planned.
The MTA defines the rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives. Biological materials,
such as reagents, cell lines, plasmids, and vectors, are the most frequently transferred materials, but MTAs may also be used for other types
of materials, such as chemical compounds and even some types of software.
