Intellectual Property Policy Introduction On June 8, 1992, The Johns Hopkins University Trustees approved a revised Intellectual Property Policy, which superseded the University's previous Policy, adopted on October 13, 1983. The revised Policy was further amended on October 27, 1992, and permits the various Divisions of the University to adopt their own royalty and equity policies, within certain limits. Pursuant to that authority, the School of Hygiene and Public Health, with the approval of the Trustees, adopted on February 27, 1993, The Johns Hopkins University Revised Royalty Distribution for the School of Hygiene and Public Health, included in the University policy document, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health Equity Policy. The latter Policies charge a standing Committee on Conflict of Interest with the responsibility of reviewing certain types of proposed commercial agreements, promulgating principles governing such review, and recommending to the Dean whether the agreements are permissible. The committee's rulings are therefore integral to an understanding of allowable commercial transactions involving the School of Hygiene and Public Health and its faculty. Purpose of the Guidelines The Intellectual Property Guidelines which follow are designed to provide School of Hygiene and Public Health faculty, students, and staff with a concise overview of some of the most important features of the various interrelated Policies and principles described above. These Guidelines do not contain a comprehensive description of all these Policies and principles. Instead, they summarize the highlights of the rules that now govern many transactions involving the School of Hygiene and Public Health, its faculty, and the commercial sector. The full text of the Policies has been included and they must be reviewed in their entirety when assessing the permissibility of a commercial agreement. In addition, the School of Hygiene and Public Health's Policy on Conflict of Interest (page 23) may also apply to commercial transactions, especially consulting agreements, and therefore should be reviewed carefully. Significant Changes Among the most important changes reflected in the revised Policies are 1) a new royalty distribution formula; 2) authorization for the University and its faculty to hold equity in commercial ventures under certain circumstances, 3) applicability of the Policies to staff and certain students, and 4) clarification that software and unpatented tangible property are owned by the University. Questions Questions concerning these Guidelines and the underlying Policies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Corporate Affairs at 223-1693 or the Assistant Dean, Office of Research Administration at Ext. 4-2636. Home | Contact Us Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health © 2000 615 North Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21205-2179