This procedure describes how income from intellectual property commercialisation activities is distributed by the University.
This procedure applies to all staff, students and affiliates, including conjoint, adjunct, emeritus, honorary and visiting appointments of the University and its controlled entities.
- Federation University Australia Act 2010
-
Federation University Australia Statue 2021
- Part 7 - Intellectual Property
-
Federation University Australia (Operations) Regulations 2022
- Part 4 - Intellectual Property
- Copyright Act 1968 (Cth)
- Patents Act 1990 (Cth)
- Designs Act 2003 (Cth)
- Plant Breeders’ Rights Act 1994 (Cth)
- Circuits Layouts Act 1989 (Cth)
A complete list of definitions relevant to this procedure is contained within the Intellectual Property Policy.
A further list of definitions specifically relevant to this procedure is included below:
| TERM | DEFINITION |
| Background intellectual property | Any Intellectual Property owned by the University that exists at the time new Intellectual Property is created |
| Commercialise/commercialisation |
To exploit commercially and includes:
|
| Commercialisation revenue | The gross revenue actually received and retained by Federation University from the Commercialisation and Exploitation of specific IP owned by the University, after the payment of any withholding, goods and services or other taxes, bank fees, transaction fees and other charges. Commercialisation Revenue does not include income received from the provision of research, consultancy or other services |
| Contributor | A Staff member, Affiliate or Student who is a Creator or is a person that contributed to the creation, development or invention of the relevant IP, as determined in accordance with the relevant process |
| Course materials | All materials produced in the course of, or for use in, teaching in any form and all IP in such materials including but not limited to lectures, lecture notes and material, syllabi, study guides, assessment materials, images, multi-media presentations, web content, case studies and course software |
| Creator |
Any of the following:
|
| Indigenous Traditional Knowledge | Indigenous Australians' rights to their heritage, consisting of intangible and tangible aspects of the whole body of cultural practices, resources and knowledge systems developed nurtured and refined by Indigenous people and passed on by them as part of expressing their cultural identity, including distinctive signs and symbols, practices, know-how and skills |
| Intellectual property (IP) |
All statutory and other proprietary rights (including rights to require information be kept confidential) in respect of inventions, copyright, trademarks, designs, patents, plant breeder's rights, circuit layouts, know-how, trade secrets, data, materials and all other rights as defined by Article 2 of the Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organisation of July 1967, all rights to apply for the same and, for the avoidance of doubt, includes:
|
| Invention | Any IP that is patentable under the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) |
| Net revenue | The monetary amount retained by Federation University from the Commercialisation Revenue received from the commercialisation of IP after the legitimate claims of third parties are satisfied |
| Pre-existing intellectual property | Tangible IP that the University agrees is owned by a Staff member, a Student or a third party prior to the date of their employment or enrolment at Federation University |
| Specifically commissioned | Work requested by the University by agreement, where particular consideration is given. This may include financial consideration or relief from teaching or other duties |
| University resources | Resources of the University and its controlled entities which includes without limitation facilities, funds, services, equipment, paid leave, staff time and support staff |
The only officers of the University authorised to:
- initiate;
- proceed with the protection of;
- exploit;
- make commitments in relation to, or
- otherwise deal with Federation University Australia IP
are the Vice-Chancellor and the IP Officer (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Innovation).
Creator(s) cannot act on their own behalf or on behalf of the University when dealing with University owned IP.
Any commercial enquiries in relation to the right to exploit IP owned by the University received by Staff or Students must be referred to the IP Officer.
Staff or Students must not engage in any commercial discussions without the involvement of the IP Officer.
Net Revenue received from IP commercialisation by the University will be disbursed as follows:
- 50% to the Creators;
- 25% to the University; and
- 25% to the relevant School or Centre of the University.
This right applies regardless of whether the Contributor is still associated with the University.
Any such net revenue of commercialisation will be paid to the Contributor’s estate if the Contributor is deceased.
2.1 Weighting the contribution of multiple Creators and multiple technologies
| ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
| A. | Weighting contributions and multiple technologies |
IP Officer Creators |
There are frequently multiple Creators and multiple patents or technologies commercialised concurrently. By agreement of all of the Creators in writing:
If the Creators cannot agree on a) or b) above, then the default position is: That all Creators contributions will be deemed equal and all technologies and IP will be considered equal in value; or
The principles on which the University share of Net Revenue will be received and disbursed are:
|
2.2 Disbursing of net revenue from IP assigned to Creator(s)
| ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
| A. | Disbursement of Net Revenue |
IP Officer Creator(s) |
If the University decides not to proceed or continue with the commercialisation of specified IP, the Creator(s) may request the University to assign that IP to them, with the University having the discretionary right to do so, or not. It is a condition of assignment of the IP to the Creator(s) that the University receives a future benefit amounting to 20% of the Net Revenue received from the commercialisation and exploitation of that IP by the Creator(s) after their reasonable commercialisation costs have been recovered, unless otherwise agreed by the Vice-Chancellor and the IP Officer. |
3.1 Commercialisation Deed
| ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
| A. | Complete Commercialisation Deed |
IP Officer Creator(s) |
Under the Researcher IP Commercialisation Deed, the Creator(s) assign their IP to the University. This Deed also defines the distribution of Net Revenue to Creator(s) under the IP Policy. |
3.2 Commercialisation Costs
The Commercialisation Costs deducted by the University from Commercialisation Revenue to determine Net Revenue include all identifiable out-of-pocket expenses relating to the commercialisation of a particular IP. The following are considered reasonable Commercialisation Costs:
3.2.1 The costs of registering, protecting and enforcing IP rights
Associated invoiced patent attorney costs and registration and renewal fees relating to IP, and all patent attorney and external legal costs associated with the assertion of IP rights. Any patent costs recovered from a licensee are offset against the costs incurred.
3.2.2 External IP management & review services
The University may employ external IP management consultants, or contractors to administer and manage its IP portfolio. These costs associated with IP management and administration and the costs of engaging other external parties to carry out specific reviews of IP and the IP landscape, including assessing the commercial potential or value of IP, are reasonable commercialisation costs. Any IP management or review costs recovered from a licensee are offset against the costs incurred.
3.2.3 Research & Development – Creation of prototypes, models and samples
Product and prototype development costs are reasonable commercialisation costs. Any product development or prototype costs recovered from a licensee are offset against the costs incurred.
3.2.4 Insurance and legal costs
When there are specific insurance costs during the commercialisation of a technology in excess of the University's insurance cover, these are allowable commercialisation costs.
External legal service costs for a specific technology including conducting due diligence reviews, preparing contracts or dealing with legal disputes are reasonable commercialisation costs allocated to the technology.
Defending, prosecuting, or settling actions, or asserting rights arising from legal disputes, or court ordered payments are reasonable commercialisation costs allocated to the technology.
3.2.5 Market review and commercialisation consultant costs
External costs incurred through market and technology surveys and preparing business plans or investment proposals are part of developing a case for and progressing commercialisation. These costs are reasonable commercialisation costs allocated to the technology. If an analysis benefits several technologies or patents, then the costs are shared equally.
3.2.6 Marketing and Travel
When the University is developing an understanding of the technology or market opportunities, and when developing a relationship with potential and actual licenses, investors or industry partners, reasonable out-of-pocket costs for travel and meetings are commercialisation costs allocated to the technology.
Industry specific conference costs for promoting specific technologies and assessing their market potential are commercialisation costs allocated to the technology.
External consultant and supplier costs specific to developing and promoting technologies for their commercial development are commercialisation costs allocated to the technology. These include electronic promotional materials (e.g. videos) and designing, and the production of promotional materials for a specific technology.
Success and other fees associated with appointing agents or independent contractors to promote, secure and manage licensing, capital investment and other commercialisation opportunities are considered reasonable commercialisation costs.
3.2.7 Accrued costs
Where patent or other costs have been committed to a technology that has been licensed, and where those costs are recoverable from the licensee, but have not been invoiced at the time of reconciling commercialisation income received to date, then those costs will be accrued as commercialisation costs against the technology for the purpose of determining the Net Revenue in any disbursement period.
3.2.8 Platform technologies
Where a technology is a platform technology with multiple applications, it may have the potential for multiple income streams. All commercialisation costs are deductible from any commercialisation revenue received, regardless of the market sectors involved.
3.3 Investments in incorporated entities
If the University takes the risk of making a direct capital investment in a spin-off company, in return for equity, then this is not a commercialisation cost and any return generated from that equity holding will not be treated as commercialisation revenue.
In the event that the University converts any commercialisation costs into equity in a spin-off company, those costs will be counted as recovered and any income generated from that equity holding will not be treated as commercialisation revenue.
- The Chief Operating Officer (as the Approval Authority) is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this procedure.
- The Director, Research and Enterprise (as the Document Owner) is responsible for maintaining the content of this procedure as delegated by the Chief Operating Officer.
The Disbursement of Net Revenue from IP Commercialisation Procedure will be communicated throughout the University via:
- an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure;
The Disbursement of Net Revenue from IP Commercialisation Procedure will be implemented throughout the University via:
- an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure;
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