Intellectual Property

Copyrights   |   Patents   |   Research and Technology Transfer   |  Tech Stock Forms  |  Trademarks

The Office of General Counsel provides legal advice and counsel regarding intellectual property and technology transfer to UT System and UT System institutions and is responsible for legal matters relating to:

• Conflicts of interest management
• Copyrights
• Patents and inventorship determination
• Research and technology transfer
• Research-related agreements including: clinical trial agreements, sponsored research agreements, license agreements, material transfer agreements, inter-institutional agreements, confidentiality agreements and research grants
• Scientific misconduct allegations
• Training for UT technology transfer professionals and research contract negotiators

Copyrights

The University of Texas System maintains its copyright policy at UTS107, "Use of Copyrighted Materials." If you are a member of a UT institution community (faculty, staff, or student), click the appropriate link to view frequently-used copyright agreements, courseware agreements, and software standard agreements. Because copyright law is fluid, evolving, and fact-specific, contact an attorney for assistance on particular issues. UT institution community members may contact the Office of General Counsel for guidance.

In addition, a review of the Copyright Crash Course, maintained by The University of Texas at Austin Libraries Scholarly Communications Advisor Georgia Harper, may be helpful.  The Course contains additional information and resources, such as:

• Copyright in the Library
• Copyright Ownership
• Fair Use of Copyrighted Material
• Getting Permission
• Obtaining Rights to Produce a Play or Musical or Use Music in Live Performances
• Orphan Works
• The TEACH Act
• University Administrative Interests in Copyright

Patents

The Office of General Counsel oversees the Board of Regent’s intellectual property created at a UT System institution and, with regard to patentable intellectual properties, works closely with outside patent counsel assisting with the assessment of patentability and the preparation, filing, prosecution, issuance, and maintenance of patents issued in the United States and abroad, which are held by the Board of Regents.  All original Letters Patent and Assignments held by the Board of Regents are housed and maintained in the Office of General Counsel.

When appropriate and necessary, the Office of General Counsel works closely with outside patent litigation counsel to initiate and resolve any infringement issues and preserve the intellectual property rights of the Board of Regents.

Research, Technology Transfer, and Commercialization

The Intellectual Property and Technology Transactions Practice Group provides guidance to UT institutions in negotiating and drafting various agreements related to research, technology transfer, and commercialization, and reviews such agreements to ensure they comply with the Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 90000.

Offices

Information regarding the research, technology transactions, and commercialization offices for UT institutions and UT System Administration can be found by clicking the appropriate office listed below:

Academic Institutions | Health Institutions | UT System

• UT Arlington: Office of Research | Office of Technology Management
• UT Austin: Offices of Research and Sponsored Projects | Office of Technology Commercialization
• UT Dallas: Office of Research | Office of Technology Commercialization
• UT El Paso: Office of Research and Sponsored Projects | Office of Technology Transfer
• UT Permian Basin: Office of Research and Grants Administration | Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization
• UT Rio Grande Valley: The Division of Research, Innovation and Economic Development 
• UT San Antonio: Office of Commercialization and Innovation | Office of Research Development
• UT Tyler: Office of Research and Technology Transfer | Office of Research and Technology Transfer - Technology Management

• UT Health Science Center at Houston: Office of Research | Office of Technology Management
• UT Health Science Center at San Antonio: Office of Sponsored Projects | Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization
• UT Health Science Center at Tyler: Office of Research
• UT MD Anderson Cancer Center: Office of Sponsored Programs | Office of Technology Commercialization and Licensing
• UT Medical Branch - Galveston: Office of Clinical Research | Office of Sponsored Programs  | Office of Technology Transfer
• UT Southwestern Medical Center: Office of Research Administration | Office for Technology Development

Tech Stock Forms

Interactive forms addressing New Tech Stock and Change Tech Stock, as well as procedures for completing and submitting each form, can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link below. Please note that both the "New Tech Stock Form" and the "Change Tech Stock Form" require downloading to your computer, in order to access each document:

• Procedures: Filling out and Submitting - New Tech Stock Form: Change Tech Stock Form
• New Tech Stock Form
• Change Tech Stock Form

Trademarks

A trademark or service mark may be a word, name, symbol, device, or any combination thereof that is used by its owner to identify or distinguish goods or services from those of others. Unlike patents and copyrights, interests in trademarks and service marks arise as a result of use of the mark in commerce to identify the source or origin of goods and services. In addition, trademark rights do not end after a specific period of time as do patent rights and copyrights. Instead, a trademark remains the property of the owner so long as the owner continues to use it properly as a trademark.

The unauthorized use of a UT trademark in conjunction with the product or service of an individual, group, or corporation may damage the University's reputation and suggest University endorsement where none exists. For this reason, UT System has taken action necessary to protect UT trademarks under applicable federal and state law, and has developed policies and procedures to license their use under limited circumstances. (See the UT System Trademark Policy).

Some UT System trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and with the State of Texas. Many UT System trademarks are also registered in foreign countries. Please see the Office of Trademark Licensing for a complete list of registered marks.

Inquiries regarding licensing of UT System trademarks may be directed to:

Trademark Licensing Director
Office of Trademark Licensing
The University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Box 7399
Austin, Texas 78713
Phone: (512) 475-7923
Fax: (512) 232-7080
Website: https://trademarks.utexas.edu/

UT System has posted on-line Trademark License Agreement Terms and Conditions and a sample Trademark License Grant Clause for Trademark License Agreements, for your convenience.