Intellectual Property

GSU Policy on Intellectual Property
This policy addresses both individual and university intellectual property rights, and applies to all persons creating intellectual property at Georgia State University. The policy applies to students and all university employees, including but not limited to, faculty and staff. The policy also extends to persons receiving compensation or funding from the university, or funds administered by the university.

Other important policies that should be reviewed include:

• GSU Individual Conflict of Commitment & Conflict of Interest Policy 
• GSU Financial Disclosures in Sponsored Instruction, Research or Service Activities Policy
• Board of Regents Intellectual Property Policy, Section 6.3 
• Board of Regents Policy on Outside Activities, Section 8.2.15

Federal Policies Regarding Intellectual Property
Bayh-Dole Act
Key Provisions:

• Investigators who receive federal funding are required by law to disclose potentially patentable inventions, made using any federal support, to the grant receipient's (GSURF's) Office of Technology Transfer.
• The Georgia State University Research Foundation (GSURF) must comply with reporting requirements regarding inventions. GSURF may "elect title" to inventions. By electing title to an invention, GSURF asserts ownership over it and agrees to comply with several stipulations all designed to insure that the invention is protected and a credible effort made to commercialize.
• GSURF must pursue protection and commercialization of inventions for which title is elected.
• If GSURF does not elect title, ownership remains with the federal government. Ownership does not devolve to the inventors. However, inventors may request title from the sponsor.
• Whether GSURF or an inventor obtains title to a particular invention, the federal government retains certain rights and imposes certain obligations relating to the invention.

Responsibility of Applicants for promoting objectivity in research for which PHS or NSF (section 510, page 61) funding is sought.

Material Transfer Agreements
Material Transfer Agreements are used to document the transfer of material from one entity to another, either to transfer material away from the university or to receive a material into the university. If you have been asked to provide a material to a scientist at another institution, please complete the Request for Outgoing Materials Form and submit the form to the Georgia State University Office of Legal Affairs. Legal Affairs will prepare the appropriate Material Transfer Agreement to be signed by the university and the institution requesting the materials.

If you are interested in receiving materials from a scientist at another institution, please send any Material Transfer Agreement received from the institution to the Office of Legal Affairs for review. 

Link to additional information about technology commercialization and start-up ventures:
GeorgiaBio
GeorgiaBio supports Georgia's biotech and biomedical devices industry. The group meets monthly to hear from leaders from both within and outside of the state. Georgia State University is a member of this group which means only $15 has to be paid to attend its monthly meeting (7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., Resources Forum, 3340 Peachtree Road, NE, 1000 Tower Walk, Atlanta). For more information on the next meeting, please see the GeorgiaBio website.