Intellectual Property

Policy number 17-03.1
Responsible office Research
Enforcement official
Enforcement official
Vice President for Research
Classification Board of Trustees Policy
Category Research and Intellectual Property

Statement of policy

The University requires any Intellectual Property developed by Western Michigan University (WMU) faculty, staff, and students and others participating in WMU programs to adhere to the policy on intellectual property which covers the ownership, commercialization, and distribution of royalties, license agreements, equity interests, sale of intellectual property, and similar income generating intellectual property agreements. These policies apply equally to the main campus and to other WMU programs at other locations and the Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC).

Summary of contents/major changes

This policy pertains to the various forms of intellectual property and Scholarly Works to which the policy pertains and provides instruction in regards to the ownership of intellectual property, use of WMU name and logos, and access to data, among several others. The policy concludes with protocol on how to properly administrate intellectual property, including sanctions for violation, which falls under the purview of the Vice President of Research.

"Intellectual Property" often results from the scholarship of faculty and staff, and typically includes technical innovations, inventions, creations, discoveries, and tangible research property, as well as computer "software" code. Intellectual Property is not intended to include "Scholarly Works" typically defined as traditional items of scholarly activity such as textbooks, scholarly books, or other written documents.

WMU's Intellectual Property Policy defines and sets forth the ownership, commercialization, and distribution of royalties, license agreements, equity interests, sale of intellectual property, and similar income generating intellectual property agreements arising from Intellectual Property developed by Western Michigan University (WMU) faculty, staff, and students and others participating in WMU programs.

For intellectual property and commercialization inquiries contact:
Steve Weber, Ph.D.
Director, Technology and Commercialization

References
History
Effective date of current version March 1, 2007
Proposed date of next review March 1, 2021