Business
- Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI)
- Intellectual Property
- Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)
- ARO Small Business Opportunities
- Contracting
- Broad Agency Announcements
- Collaborative Alliances
- Partnership Methods and Opportunities
- Small Business
- Scientific Services Program
- Technology Transfer
- University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs)
The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory is authorized to license its intellectual property to private industry and other entities. Licenses are a means of achieving wider use of inventions created by DEVCOM ARL scientists. Once a patent application has been filed for an invention, that invention can be licensed for commercial development and use.
This Patent License Agreement (PLA) may be non-exclusive, partially exclusive or exclusive. Regardless of the type of license negotiated, the government retains its rights to use an invention and to grant nonexclusive research licenses. Royalties are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and take many factors into account, such as market size, exclusivity, or whether additional technology development is needed. The laboratory may provide technical assistance on a reimbursable basis, if needed to further develop the technology.
Authority
PLAs are authorized by 15 U.S.C. 3710a. The governing regulation is AR 70-57, Military-Civilian Technology Transfer, dated 26 February 2004.
When a PLA is Appropriate
A PLA is appropriate to use when a company or other entity desires to license a patent or patent application for commercialization or research purposes. There are three types of licenses that may be negotiated:
- An exclusive license restricts the use of an invention to a single licensee.
- A partially exclusive license allows multiple licensees, but restricts the use of the invention by any single licensee to a particular geographic area or to a particular use.
- A nonexclusive license can be issued to any number of licensees.
Who May Participate?
- Private corporations (U.S. or foreign)
- Nonprofit and not-for-profit institutions (U.S. or foreign)
- State and local governments (U.S.)