Policies & Procedures

Statement of Policy in Regard to Intellectual Property (IP Policy)

Adopted by the President and Fellows of Harvard College on November 3, 1975 as the “Statement of Policy in Regard to Inventions, Patents, and Copyrights” and amended on March 17, 1986, February 9, 1998 and August 10, 1998. Further amended, restated and renamed on February 4, 2008 and amended on October 4, 2010, December 12, 2013 and June 11, 2019.

The policy statement displayed below is also available for viewing/download as a PDF file.

Introduction

Harvard University has had a long history of benefiting the public through its research programs. The University recognizes that the public benefits from new products and processes resulting from discoveries and inventions made by individuals connected with the University in the course of their University activities. The growing application and use of communications media, educational technology, computer programs and other innovative approaches to conducting the work of the University often raise complex and ongoing challenges as to the proper and equitable utilization, obligations and rewards associated with innovation. Inventors, authors, the University and outside sponsors all may be involved. These challenges are further affected by federal policy and legislation relating to intellectual property (including patents and copyrights) as well as the funding of research. All of these considerations have led the University to develop and adjust, over time, policies that are understandable to members of the Harvard community and that provide the basis for equitable adjudication between the various interests involved in a manner consistent with the University’s primary commitment to the public interest.

In November 1975, the University adopted a patent and copyright policy to codify existing practices and to replace the 1934 policy regarding patents in the field of health and therapeutics. This document incorporates revisions to the 1975 policy as provided in amendments adopted between 1986 and 2003 and further modifies and updates the policy.

Previous policy statements have tended to be general in nature, based on a belief that the University was too diverse to adapt easily to a detailed policy. However, as the legal, equitable and public interest challenges have become more complex, the discretionary approach to solving problems of interpretation has caused confusion and uncertainty both for members of the Harvard community and for those outside the University community. In addition, advanced standardized practices have been adopted over the years among some of Harvard’s peer institutions and are important to recognize on behalf of the Harvard community.

Therefore, it is the intent of this document to overcome ambiguities in earlier policy statements in favor of more definitive statements of policy that are applicable to the entire Harvard community and that more closely align the University with the practices of peer and affiliated institutions.

The University’s policy governing the ownership and disposition of intellectual property which includes, but is not limited to, inventions, copyrights (including computer software), trademarks, and tangible research property such as biological materials is based on the following principles. From time to time, advances in science and the arts may result in new structures of intellectual property protection. They shall be considered to fall within this policy to the extent practicable.

First, the policy should encourage the viewpoint that ideas or creative works produced at the University should be used in ways that are meaningful in the public interest. This may be accomplished through widespread dissemination. Thus, dissemination and use of ideas and creativity should be encouraged throughout the Harvard community. In other circumstances, the public may benefit from the stronger application of legal protection to the innovations and creative works of inventors and authors so that they may be developed into useful products. Although this policy recognizes that public benefit should be placed before financial gain, it is appropriate and often desirable for the University and inventors and authors to benefit financially from the use of a particular invention or creative work. In deciding how to proceed in regard to a particular invention or creative work covered by this policy, the University will consider the benefits and consequences for the public and the University, as well as for individual inventors and authors.

Second, the policy should protect the traditional rights of scholars with respect to the products of their intellectual endeavors. For instance, the policy should not interfere with the rights of a scholar to publish a book or an article. Where the University takes ownership or control over scholarly works, the University shall consult with authors on plans for publication.

Third, where financial or other support in terms of facilities, equipment or staff for development of intellectual property has been provided or administered by or through the University, the University may have outside contractual commitments which must be recognized or may have made financial investments for which reimbursement through commercial application is appropriate.

The University also has a compelling interest in ensuring that its name and insignias are properly used, especially that the use of its name or insignia to imply association with the institution is accurate and appropriate, and that it receives a fair share of any commercial fruits from the use of its names. While this concern relates to the University’s intellectual property rights, i.e., in trademarks that protect the Harvard name and insignias, it is addressed separately in the “Policy on the Use of Harvard Names and Insignias”, dated February 9, 1998.

The following policy is applicable to all full- and part-time faculty, staff and employees, students, postdoctoral fellows and non-employees who use University funds, facilities or other resources, or participate in University-administered research, including visiting faculty, industrial personnel and fellows, regardless of obligations to other companies or institutions. For purposes of this policy, these individuals will be referred to as “covered persons” or “persons covered by this policy”.

From time to time, it may be in the best interests of the University to enter into agreements with third parties that are exceptions to the policies reflected in this document and the persons covered by this policy. Exceptions shall be made after consultation with the Office of Technology Development and only upon written agreements signed by individuals authorized to grant such exceptions on behalf of the University.

Section I. Inventions and Patents

A. Definitions. For purposes of this policy, the following terms related to inventions shall have the following meanings:

Inventor. Shall mean a person covered by this policy who individually or jointly with others makes an Invention and who meets the criteria for inventorship under United States patent laws and regulations.

Invention. Shall mean any patentable or potentially patentable idea, discovery or know-how and any associated or supporting technology that is required for development or application of the idea, discovery or know-how.

Supported Invention. Shall mean an Invention conceived or reduced to practice by a person covered by this policy (whether alone or together with others) if conceived or reduced to practice in whole or in part:

Under or subject to an agreement between Harvard and a third party; or
With use of direct or indirect financial support from Harvard, including support or funding from any outside source awarded to or administered by Harvard; or
With use (other than incidental use) of space, facilities, materials or other resources provided by or through the University.

Incidental Invention. Shall mean an Invention (other than a Supported Invention) that is conceived or reduced to practice by a person covered by this policy making an incidental use of space, facilities, materials or other resources related to the conception or reduction to practice of such Invention.

B. Disclosure Obligations. Covered persons are required to notify the University’s Office of Technology Development (“OTD”) of each Supported Invention and Incidental Invention through a disclosure document as prescribed by OTD, except as otherwise provided in Section III regarding Sponsored Software Inventions.

C. Ownership Determination. Upon review of the disclosure document, OTD will determine whether the Invention is a Supported Invention or an Incidental Invention and, in the case of a Supported Invention, shall further determine, with assistance from patent counsel, who are the Inventor(s), consistent with U.S. patent law. Harvard shall have the right to own and each Inventor, at Harvard’s request, shall assign to Harvard all of his/her right, title and interest in a Supported Invention. Ownership of an Incidental Invention shall remain with its Inventor(s), subject to any rights that may be granted to Harvard as required by this policy.

D. Filing of Patent Applications. OTD shall be solely responsible for determining whether a patent application shall be filed on a Supported Invention. Filing determinations may be made on the basis of commercial potential, obligations to and rights of third parties, or for other reasons which OTD, in its discretion, deems appropriate. Inventor(s) of a Supported Invention for which patent applications are filed shall cooperate, without expense to the Inventor, in the patenting process in all ways required by the University or its agent or designee.

E. Commercialization. OTD shall have the sole discretion with respect to the commercialization of a Supported Invention, but shall take into account the public interest. Where a Supported Invention is subject to an external agreement with a third party (for example, the federal government or other funding sponsor), OTD shall make decisions consistent with that agreement. OTD shall make decisions concerning commercialization as it deems appropriate and shall make reasonable efforts to keep Inventor(s) involved and informed of its commercialization efforts.

F. Royalty Sharing. Where royalties are generated by Harvard as a consequence of commercializing a Supported Invention, royalties will be shared with the Inventor(s) as described in Section V (“Royalty Sharing”) of this policy. The University shall have the right to modify the Royalty Sharing section of this policy in accordance with Section VI.C of this policy.

G. Release of Inventions. Where the University determines that it will not file a patent application on a Supported Invention, abandons a patent application on a Supported Invention prior to issuance of the patent, or abandons an issued patent on a Supported Invention, the Inventor(s) may request a release of the Invention. Upon determining that releasing the Invention to the Inventor(s) will not violate the terms of an external funding agreement and is in the best interests of Harvard and the public, OTD may agree to a release and in such case will assign or release all interest which it holds or has the right to hold in the Invention to the Inventor(s) in equal shares, or such other shares as the Inventors may all agree. Release of Supported Inventions may be conditioned upon, among other things, agreement by the Inventor(s) to the following:

To reimburse the University for all out-of-pocket legal expenses and fees incurred by the University if and when the Inventor(s) receive income from the Invention.
To share with the University 20% of the net income (income remaining from gross income after repayment of University expenses above and the Inventor(s)’ legal and licensing expenses) received by the Inventors from the Invention. Income subject to this revenue sharing provision includes equity received by Inventors as consideration for the Invention but does not include financing received for purposes of research and development.
Upon request, to report to the University regarding efforts to develop the Invention for public use and, at the University’s request, to reassign those Inventions which the Inventor(s), their agents or designees are not developing for the benefit of the public.
To fulfill any obligations that may exist to sponsors of the research that led to the Invention.
To grant back to Harvard an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, nonexclusive, worldwide right and license to use the Invention for its research, education and clinical care purposes and a right to grant the same rights to other non-profit institutions.
To agree to such limitations on the University’s liability and indemnity provisions as the University may request.

H. Harvard Rights in Incidental Inventions. In recognition of the contribution the Harvard community as a whole makes in support of innovation at Harvard, Inventor(s) agree to grant to the University an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty free, world-wide right to use Incidental Inventions in the University’s non-profit educational and research activities.

Section II. Copyrights

A. Ownership. Subject to the Exceptions in subsection B below, Authors are entitled to own the copyright and retain any revenue derived therefrom in books, films, video cassettes, works of art, musical works and other copyrightable materials of whatever nature or kind and in whatever format developed, except that computer software and databases shall be subject to Section III (“Computer Software”) of this policy. It is expected that when entering into agreements for the publication and distribution of copyrighted materials, Authors will make arrangements that best serve the public interest. As used in this policy, “Author” means any person covered by this policy who creates a work of authorship qualifying for protection under U.S. copyright law.

Whenever research or a related activity is subject to an agreement between the University and a third party that contains obligations or restrictions concerning copyright or the use of copyrighted materials, those materials shall be handled in accordance with the agreement. In negotiating with third parties, project directors and the University should strive to protect and advance the public interest as well as obtain the greatest latitude and rights for the individual Author(s) and the University consistent with the public interest and this policy.
In circumstances where University involvement in the creation and development of copyrighted materials is more than incidental, including, but not limited to, use of resources such as funds, facilities, equipment or other University resources, in consideration of making such resources available, ownership and rights to shares of royalties or income or both shall be fairly and equitably apportioned as between the University and the Author(s) or may be varied by policy duly adopted by the University or individual Faculties. This policy encourages, whenever feasible, the University and the Author(s) to reach agreement prior to the commencement of a project on the rights that the University and Author(s) will have in the resulting copyrighted materials.
A copyrightable work created within the scope of employment by non- teaching employees of the University shall be a “work made for hire” under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 (17 USC §101 et seq.) and the University shall be deemed the Author and shall own the copyright.
The University may also commission copyrightable works from University personnel, including faculty and students. A commissioned work falling within the “work made for hire” definition of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 USC 101 et seq.) shall constitute a work-for-hire and be owned by the University.
The University, at any time, may acquire ownership or rights in copyright and copyrighted materials by agreement with the Author(s) or other rightsholder(s), on such terms as are agreed.

C. Other Applicable Policy. Sections I.E and I.F of this policy shall apply to Copyrights that are assigned to the University under paragraph B.1 above as if they were Supported Inventions, except as otherwise provided in the other paragraphs of Section II.B or in the following sentence. Individual Faculties may adopt different or additional policies concerning copyright and any such policy shall be effective if it is formally adopted by the applicable Faculty and if it is generally consistent with the principles stated in this policy or is also approved by the President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Section III. Computer Software

Sponsored Computer Software. Shall mean any computer program (including, without limitation, microcode, subroutines, and operating systems), regardless of form of expression or object in which it is embodied, together with any users’ manuals and other accompanying explanatory materials and any computer database, that is developed:

Under or subject to agreement between Harvard and a third party; or
With use of direct or indirect financial support from Harvard, including support or funding from any outside source awarded to or administered by Harvard; or
With use (other than incidental use) of space, facilities, materials or other resources provided by or through the University.

Sponsored Software Invention. Shall mean Sponsored Computer Software, which is an Invention as defined under Section I of this policy.

B. Disclosure Obligations.

A Sponsored Software Invention shall be required to be disclosed to OTD as an Invention only in cases where:
1. The Sponsored Software Invention was developed under or subject to agreement between Harvard and a third party as in paragraph A.1 above; or
2. The Inventor(s) and/or Author(s) deem the Sponsored Software Invention to have commercial potential and/or favor seeking patent protection for the Invention.
1. The University shall own all patents, copyrights and other intellectual property rights in Sponsored Computer Software. For the avoidance of doubt, where the University determines that a patent application will not be filed for a Sponsored Software Invention or, if filed, a patent does not issue, Sponsored Computer Software will remain the property of the University. Where a patent application is filed on a Sponsored Software Invention, Harvard shall have a right of ownership in all associated copyrights as supporting technology. The purpose of this section of the policy is to enable utilization of Sponsored Computer Software in the public interest regardless of the potential for a division of ownership due to the patentable and copyrightable nature of computer software.
2. Computer programs and databases that are not included in paragraph C.1 above shall, for all purposes, be treated in accordance with the policies provided under Section II “Copyrights”.
D. Release of Sponsored Computer Software. Where the University has the right but elects not to commercialize Sponsored Computer Software, the University may release its rights, in its sole discretion, subject to a written agreement reserving certain rights to the University and signed by all individuals who have been determined to be Inventor(s) and Author(s) of the Sponsored Computer Software.

E. Other Applicable Policy. Sections I.E. and I.F. of this policy apply to Sponsored Computer Software and to Inventors and Authors of Sponsored Computer Software as if Sponsored Computer Software were a Supported Invention.

Section IV. Unpatented Materials

Unpatented Materials (including biological materials). Means cell lines, organisms, proteins, plasmids, DNA/RNA, chemical compounds, transgenic animals and other materials useful for research or for commercial purposes for which patent applications are not filed or, if filed, do not issue, where such materials are developed by persons covered by this policy:
1. Under or subject to agreement between Harvard and a third party; or
2. With use of direct or indirect financial support from Harvard, including support or funding from any outside source awarded to or administered by Harvard; or
3. With use (other than incidental use) of space, facilities, materials or other resources provided by or through the University.
Contributors. Means those individuals who are determined by the head of the laboratory or the principal investigator of a research program, as applicable, to have made a contribution to the development of the Unpatented Materials.

B. Ownership and Commercialization. The University shall own all rights in Unpatented Materials and may make appropriate distribution in the public interest, including licensing or transferring Unpatented Materials, for research and commercial purposes. Individuals named as Contributors shall be entitled to a share of licensing revenues in accordance with paragraph C.2 of Section V of this policy.

Section V. Royalty Sharing

A. Distributable Royalties. Harvard employs a single uniform structure for distribution of royalties to Inventors, Authors and Contributors (for the purposes of this Section V, collectively, “Creators” and each a “Creator”). Harvard will distribute Net Royalties received by Harvard from the licensing or other distribution of its intellectual property or technology covered by this policy, as and to the extent provided in this policy. Net Royalties are calculated based on gross receipts consisting of cash and securities or other equity shares in an enterprise received by Harvard in return for use of its intellectual property, but do not include other non-cash benefits, sponsored research funding, or other financial benefits such as gifts. Except as provided in Section V.E.3, below, where a share of income is due to a third party on account of certain Creations licensed or otherwise transferred as a package, Net Royalties equal those gross receipts that Harvard is entitled to retain, less: (i) Harvard’s out-of-pocket costs and fees associated with securing, maintaining and enforcing intellectual property protection such as patenting and litigation expenses, (ii) out-of-pocket costs incurred by Harvard in the licensing of the intellectual property and (iii) any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in making, shipping or otherwise distributing biological or other materials (including, without limitation, Unpatented Materials). As used herein, the term “Creation” shall mean any Invention, Computer Software, copyright or Unpatented Material as to which Net Royalties are to be distributed in accordance with this policy.

B. Standard Distribution Method. Except as otherwise provided in this policy, the following formula will apply to the distribution of Net Royalties among Creators, their respective research laboratories, Departments/Centers and Schools and the University, based on amounts received by Harvard on or after October 4, 2010:
Creator personal share – 35% Administrative fee – 9.75% (15% of total, net of Creator personal share) Creator research share – 12.75%
Creator Department/Center share (except that if within FAS, or if no Department or Center, to be allocated by Dean of the Creator's School for research purposes) – 12.75%
Creator School share – 17% President’s share – 12.75% Administrative fee – 15% Of the remainder: Creator personal share – 35% Creator research share – 15%
Creator Department/Center share (except that if within FAS, or if no Department or Center, to be allocated by Dean of the Creator's School for research purposes) – 15%
Creator School share – 20% President’s share – 15%
C. Technology Development Accelerator Fund Distribution Method. As used in this policy, the term “Technology Development Accelerator Fund” or “TDAF” means the Technology Development Accelerator Fund launched by OTD in 2007, any of its successor programs, including, without limitation, the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator at Harvard University, and any other funding programs that are administered by OTD or the University Provost’s Office to advance the commercial readiness of Harvard-owned technologies and that the Provost of the University determines shall be included within the meaning of “Technology Development Accelerator Fund” for this purpose.

Except as otherwise provided in this policy, one of the following formulas, as appropriate, will apply to the distribution of Net Royalties based on amounts received by Harvard on or after October 4, 2010 and derived from licensing or other distribution of intellectual property conceived, reduced to practice or otherwise made, improved or further developed with financial support from the Technology Development Accelerator Fund:
Creator personal share – 35% Creator research share – 15%
Creator Department/Center share (except that if within FAS, or if no Department or Center, to be allocated by Dean of the Creator's School for research purposes) – 10%
Creator School share – 10% President’s share – 10%
Technology Development Accelerator Fund share – 20%; and
Administrative fee – 15% Of the remainder: Creator personal share – 35% Creator research share – 15%
Creator Department/Center share (except that if within FAS, or if no Department or Center, to be allocated by Dean of the Creator's
School for research purposes) – 10% Creator School share – 10% President’s share – 10% Technology Development Accelerator Fund share – 20%
D. Distribution of Amounts Received before October 4, 2010. Net Royalties based on amounts received by Harvard before October 4, 2010 will be distributed according to the version of this policy in effect as of the date the amounts were received.

E. Alternative Distribution Methods. Net Royalties earned from licensing of Creations with multiple Creators will be distributed as follows:
1. Among multiple Inventors and/or Authors for a single patented invention or copyright: Personal shares will be allocated among Inventors and/or Authors according to a written agreement among them or, if there is no agreement, in equal shares. Research shares, department/center shares and school shares will be allocated equally where Inventors or Authors come from different laboratories, departments/centers or schools, regardless of the number of Inventors/Authors from each laboratory, department/center or school, unless otherwise agreed among all Inventors/Authors.
2. Among multiple Contributors to a single Unpatented Material: Personal shares will be apportioned among Contributors as they mutually agree in writing or, if no agreement is reached among the Contributors, according to an administrative determination of apportionment that shall be made by the head of the laboratory in which the Unpatented Material has been made. Research shares, department/center shares and school shares will be allocated as in paragraph E.1 for patented inventions and copyrights.
3. For multiple Creations licensed as a package: Net Royalties will be allocated among the licensed Creations in equal shares, except where an executed license agreement assigns different values to different Creations licensed as a package, in which case Net Royalties will be allocated among such Creations in proportion to those assigned values. If a third party (e.g., joint owner, research sponsor or other external stakeholder) is owed a portion of income from fewer than all of the Creations in a package, Net Royalties will not be calculated for the package as a whole. Instead, Harvard first will deduct from its gross receipts the out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses enumerated in Section V.A, above, and then allocate the remainder among all licensed Creations in the package, either in equal shares or, if the applicable license agreement assigns different values to different Creations in the package, then in the same relative proportions as those values. The third party then will be paid the portion it is owed from the amount allocated to each relevant Creation, after which the amount Harvard is entitled to retain for each Creation in the package will be treated as Net Royalties for that Creation in accordance with Section V.B or V.C, as applicable. In each instance, the Creator personal share and the research, department/center and school shares of Net Royalties for each of the Creations in the package will be distributed in accordance with paragraph E.1 or E.2, as applicable.
For purposes of this Section, the term “license agreement” will be deemed to include any agreement between Harvard and a third party that relates to the disposition or control of one or more Creation(s), including, without limitation, agreements that provide for licenses or other transfers of any Creation(s) or rights therein and agreements by which one party, e.g., a joint owner of a Creation, authorizes the other to license or otherwise transfer such party’s rights in the Creation.

**Special Transitional Provision**. The provisions of this paragraph E.3 will apply to Net Royalties from all license agreements that take effect on or after July 1, 2019, regardless of when the licensed Creations were made or developed and notwithstanding Section VII.C (“Applicability of New Policy Provisions”) of this Policy, provided that allocations of Net Royalties among Creations agreed among Creators or determined by OTD pursuant to an earlier version of this Policy will be maintained for the relevant license agreement and for any subsequently executed license agreement that covers the same package of Creations. In the event that a subsequent license agreement covers fewer than all such Creations, Net Royalties will be allocated among the Creations that remain from the original package in the same relative proportions as in that original package. If additional Creations are included in the subsequent license agreement, each newly-added Creation will be allocated a 1/n share of Net Royalties, where “n” equals the total number of Creations, original and new, in the licensed package. Finally, if Creations reported to OTD on or after July 1, 2019 are licensed in a package containing Creations reported to OTD prior to that date, each of the later-reported Creations will receive a 1/n share of Net Royalties and the remaining Net Royalties will be allocated among the earlier Creations according to the relevant earlier version of this Policy.

F. Rights of Appeal. Administrative decisions made under paragraph E.2 and, solely with respect to Creations reported to OTD prior to July 1, 2019, under paragraph E.3 of the relevant earlier version of this Policy may be appealed by the persons affected to the Committee on Intellectual Property for final determination provided the appeal is made in writing to OTD within 45 days of such persons receiving written notification of the administrative decision.

G. Portability of Royalty Shares. Personal royalty shares will be payable to Creators regardless of their employment status at Harvard or elsewhere. Research shares will not follow individuals leaving Harvard, but will be payable to the individual’s Harvard laboratory or, if no such laboratory remains, the individual’s Harvard department. Where an individual leaves one department and/or laboratory for another at Harvard, the departmental and/or research share will move with him or her.

Section VI. Committee on Intellectual Property; Changes to Policy

A. Overall Responsibility. The University Committee on Intellectual Property, appointed by the President, shall be responsible for interpreting this policy and resolving questions and disputes concerning it. From time to time, the Committee may suggest changes to this policy on its own initiative or at the request of the President and Fellows of Harvard College or its designee.

B. Other Responsibilities. Other responsibilities of the Committee include the hearing of appeals as provided under this policy and such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the President and Fellows of Harvard College or its designee.

C. Changes to Policy. In addition to the right to make changes specifically provided elsewhere in this policy, the University reserves the right to amend or modify any of the terms of this policy as it may determine from time to time. The President and Fellows of Harvard College (the “Corporation”), the President of the University, and the Provost of the University each severally shall have the power to make such amendments and modifications. Any such modification or amendment shall become effective upon adoption by the Corporation, President or Provost, as the case may be, or as of such other time as the Corporation, President or Provost, as the case may be, shall specify.

Section VII. Miscellaneous

A. Implementing Procedures and Documentation. The Office of Technology Development (OTD) shall have responsibility for developing procedures and documentation as necessary for implementing this policy. Implementation procedures as recommended by OTD shall be subject to the approval of the Committee on Intellectual Property.

B. Further Assurances of Covered Persons. By making use of Harvard facilities and/or by participating in University-administered research programs and/or activities of the University that are subject to agreements with third parties, persons covered by this policy agree to assist and cooperate with the University in those actions reasonably undertaken by the University pursuant to this policy. All expenses related to providing assistance and cooperation shall be the responsibility of Harvard.

C. Applicability of New Policy Provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, except as otherwise specifically provided, it is not the intention of a policy revision or revisions to apply to Inventions, Copyrights, Computer Software and/or Unpatented Materials made or developed prior to the effective date of the revision or revisions if the revision or revisions would not have applied previously.

The policy statement displayed above is also available for viewing/download as a PDF file.

For the convenience of Authors, an interpretation of the Copyrights section of the IP Policy can be found here.