INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS POLICY OF ANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY
PREAMBLE
                 The Intellectual Property Policy of the Annamalai University aims to facilitate the protection of intellectual property generated during scientific pursuit in the institution and offers scope for wealth generation, alleviation of human sufferings and betterment of human life. Annamalai University urges all faculty, staff and students to document their IP, so that it could be protected and applied to the gain of the country, the institution and the concerned inventors. Annamalai University is keen to facilitate faculties and staff in a proactive manner in the generation, protection and transaction of Intellectual Property which offer potential and scope for shared benefit to both institution and inventors. Through this policy, â system will be in place to bring order into the process of knowledge generation and commercial exploitation.
                 This policy covers all staff, faculty members, students and also persons engaged in sponsored schemes and projects from DST, DBT, DRDO, CSIR, DOG, ICAR, ICMR,ICSSR, UGC and other financial supporting Agencies of Tamil Nadu Government / Government of India or approved private sector etc., and any other initiatives of the Institution as well as visiting scientists / professors/personnel who participate in the research work being carried out at the Institution.
                 Intellectual Property (IP) is an intangible knowledge product resulting from the intellectual output of the inventors, namely faculty, staff and students of the Institution. IP thus is an outcome of in-house or sponsored research, industrial consulting or other forms of collaborative research and development. Any product of the human intellect which is unique, novel and unobvious and which qualifies for protection under relevant Acts of the Government governing patent, copy right etc. and developed at Annamalai University belongs to the Institution. IP can be of the following forms: know-how, and other proprietary concepts, solutions, processes, including an invention, scientific or technological development and even computer software, genetically engineered microorganisms and business models and other forms as the need arises.
                 The above forms of IP can be protected, under domestic and international patent office, if protection of IP is seen necessary both by the Inventor and the Institution. It can then be protected within the country or abroad. The office of the Intellectual Property Centre deals with all activities relating to Intellectual Property of the Institution. The product of the intellect can have potential for faculty entrepreneurship. Such activities will ensure that the intangible IP reaches a tangible form that can be marketed. When this is the case, the Guidelines for Faculty Entrepreneurship shall be followed. The office of Technology Licensing and Entrepreneurship (TOTLE) at Society for Innovations and Development (SID) handles all activities related to entrepreneurship of any faculty.
IN-HOUSE RESEARCH
All rights in respect of investigations carried out at the Institution shall vest in and be the absolute property of the Institution except in respect of the activities carried out jointly with other institutions or agencies or under a sponsorship by an agency, in which case the ownership will be decided and agreed upon mutually.
SPONSORED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of inventions arising out of research projects undertaken on behalf of the sponsoring agencies shall be taken jointly in the name of the Institution and sponsoring agencies; when the sponsoring agencies bear the cost of filing and maintaining of the IPR equally. If the sponsoring agencies are not forthcoming, the Institution at its discretion may file the application with absolute ownership.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH (National and International)
All intellectual property jointly created, authored, discovered, invented, conceived or reduced to practice during the course of collaborative research undertaken jointly by Institution with Collaborating Institutions, shall be jointly owned; and the Collaborating Institutions will be requested to bear the cost of filing and maintenance of the IPR. In case the Collaborating Institutions are not forthcoming to bear frilly the cost of filing and maintenance, if considered expedient by the Institution, the Institution will share the cost equitably with the Collaborating Institutions,whereas the Collaborating Institutions are not forthcoming for filing joint IPR application, the Institution at its discretion may file the application with absolute ownership and Institution will meet the entire cost of filing and protection of IPR.
COPYRIGHT
Annamalai University shall be the owner of work, including software created by Annamalai University personnel with significant use of Annamalai University resources. If the institution foresees a gainful return from copyrights, it may initiate steps to file and protect such copyrights and share the financial benefits with the inventor on terms and conditions of the institution.
Annamalai University shall be the owner of copyright on all teaching material developed by Annamalai University personnel as part of any of’ the academic programmes at Annamalai University. The authors shall have the right to use the non-funded technical material in his/her professional capacity. If the technical material is prepared by the author on behalf of a funding agency, then the copyright will be equally shared between the institution and the funding agency. As a traditional exception, Annamalai University shall not claim ownership of copyright on books and publications authored by Annamalai University Teacher or research personnel. Any IP generated when an Inventor from the institution works in a university or company abroad/in India on EOL/sabbatical leave/earned leave, will be jointly owned by Annamalai University and the University/Company.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
The Intellectual Property of the Institution held either in the name of Annamalai University or jointly with other Institutions/Industry will be marketed for commercial exploitation under agreements involving technology transfer, licensing and revenue sharing models. The CIPR shall identify potential licensee(s) for the IP to which Annamalai University has ownership. In case of joint ownership, the organization/Industry which has sponsored the activity will have the first right to commercially utilize and exploit Intellectual Products emanating from the collaboration activity, whether or not the same have been formally protected by patent(s). The licensing to commercially exploit would involve technology transfer fee and also royalty payment from the first date of such commercial exploitation for a period that will be as mutually agreed upon.
In the event of the other collaborating organization / industry which is not undertaking the commercial exploitation within a reasonable period of two years from the first date of development of the technology. Annamalai University reserves the right to transfer the said know-how to a Third Party for its commercial exploitation and use. In such instance, however, Annamalai University shall share the net proceeds from such commercial assignments, in equal measure with the collaborating organization/industry in the ratio 50:50. Annamalai University would endeavor to exploit the IP by commissioning a Technology Management Agency and thereby bring to a favorable light the IP produced by its Inventor(s). The Inventor(s) may seek Annamalai University to assign the rights to them after a certain holding period.

REVENUE SHARING
The revenue arising out of licensing of IP and royalty would be shared in the appropriate ratio (currently, this ratio is 60:40) between the inventor(s) and the Institution, whereas Annamalai University reassigns the right of the IP to its investor(s), the inventor(s) shall reimburse all the costs incurred by Annamalai University, which include protection, maintenance, marketing and other associated costs.
INFRINGEMENTS, DAMAGES, LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY
As a matter of policy, Annamalai University shall, in any contract between the licensee and Annamalai University, seek indemnity from any legal proceedings including this, but not limited to manufacturing defects, production problems, design guarantee, up-gradation and debugging obligation. Annamalai University shall also ensure that Annamalai University personnel have an indemnity clause built into the agreements with licensee(s) while transferring technology or copyrighted material to licensees. Annamalai University shall retain the right to engage in or desist from or not in any litigation concerning patent and license infringements.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The inventor(s) are required to disclose any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest. If the inventor(s) and/or their immediate family have a stake in a licensee-company, then they are required to disclose the stake they and /or their immediate family have in the company, and license or an assignment of rights for a patent to the licensee - company in such circumstances, shall be subject to the approval of the IP Management Committee.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
In case of any disputes between Annamalai University and the Inventor(s) regarding the implementation of the IP policy, the inventor(s) may appeal to the Director of Annamalai University. Efforts shall be made to address the concerns of the inventor(s) by developing and instituting an arbitration mechanism and arrangement. The Director's decision in this regard would be final and binding on both institution and inventor.
JURISDICTION
As a policy, all agreements to be signed by Annamalai University will have the jurisdiction of the courts in Chidambaram and shall be governed by appropriate laws in India.  
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*Note: The patents can be filed by inventors of Annamalai University will be requested to bear the cost of filing and maintenance of the IPR from their funded projects, if the provision is permitted.