323

320

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
PATENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The University of North Carolina, comprising the University in Chapel
Hill, North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering in Raleigh,
and the Woman's College in Greensboro, is dedicated to teaching, to research
and scholarly investigations. New ideas and discoveries flow from university
research and investigation, and experience has proven that resultant inven-
tions are sometimes patentable. The public interest requires control of such
patents.

The research basic to an invention is often financed by State funds and
may involve ideas that are contributed by numerous individuals. Control of
inventions that may be made by members of the University staff, on University
time and through the use of State-owned facilities and materials are vital to
the public interest, and, perhaps, some resultant patents should be placed in
the Public Domain.

Publication alone does not guarantee control. University publications
are checked closely by industrial research organizations and a publicized
invention may be patented by someone other than its inventor.

Furthermore, valuable discoveries may not be exploited or utilized fully
to the benefit of the public unless patents are obtained to provide some pro-
tection for those who attempt to make the discoveries or inventions available
for wide usage. The only feasible control of such inventions or discoveries
is through patents held by the University and administered to safeguard the
public's interest.

The Research programs of the University are traditionally directed into
fundamental research and should avoid the procurement of patents merely
because there appears to be some possibility of revenue accruing to the
University.

Therefore, to assure the proper processing, protection and administra-
tion of patentable discoveries or inventions, or patents that may result from
University research activities, the Board of Trustees adopts the following
Patent Policy and Procedures:

I. CONTRACT WITH RESEARCH CORPORATION

The administration of the University is authorized to enter into a
contract with the Research Corporation which will permit each of the three
institutions to refer to that corporation inventions of University staff
members, with the agreement that the Research Corporation upon accepting assign-
ment of the invention, assumes responsibility for filing and prosecuting the
application for patent and for licensing and administering the patents.

II. FACULTY PATENT COMMITTEES

The Chancellor of each institution shall appoint a Faculty Patent
Committee, consisting of five members.

At the University in Chapel Hill the Committee shall consist of the
Business Manager and one representative each from the Division of Health Affairs,
the Division of Natural Sciences, the Division of Humanities and the Division
of Social Sciences, to be appointed by the Chancellor with the final approval
of the President.

At State College in Raleigh the Committee shall consist of the Business
Manager, the Director of Engineering Research, the Director of Agricultural
Research, and the Director of Textile Research (or a representative of each of
these Directors of Research,) and at least one other member of the faculty, to
be appointed by the Chancellor with the final approval of the President.

At the Woman's College in Greensboro the Committee shall consist of the
Business Manager and four members of the faculty to be appointed by the
Chancellor and with the approval of the President.

These three committees shall meet as an all-University Committee to assure
uniform adherence to the Trustees' patent policies and procedures as
prescribed in this resolution. The meetings of the 15-man Committee shall be
at the call of the Provost of the University and he shall serve as its
chairman.