A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology...

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A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Transcript of A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology...

Page 1: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

A Practical Guide to Licensing Your TechnologyDavid ConradDirector, Office of Technology DevelopmentUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln

Page 2: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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Personally, I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities, we didn't have to produce anything! You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've "worked“ in the private sector. They expect "results".

- Dr. Ray Stantz, Ghostbusters

Expectations and Cultures

If you take away ideology, you are left with a case-by-case ethics which in practice ends up as me first, me only, and in rampant greed.  - Richard Nelson, U.S. playwright

Page 3: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

What is a University TLO Looking for in a Licensee?

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A company that will rapidly generate royalty-bearing income or increase the value and liquidity of its equity without imposing undue financial risk or liability on the university

And if that doesn’t happen…the ability to get the IP back so that they can give another licensee a shot

Page 4: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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A Step-by-Step Approach to Licensing

Have Lunch with the Licensing

Associate

Have Lunch with the Licensing

Associate

Explain your technology and your proposed business model

Meet with the

Licensing Associate

Meet with the

Licensing Associate

Ask for a term sheet template and talk through the definitions

Write your “Business

Plan”

Write your “Business

Plan”

Ask for a copy of a business plan that the

TLO would deem acceptable

Meet with the

Director

Meet with the

Director

Discuss the startup process and ask what the University looks for in an "ideal" licensee

Sign a Standstill

Agreement

Sign a Standstill

Agreement

Ask what the TLO will and won’t be doing during this period

Page 5: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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Have Lunch with the Licensing

Associate

Have Lunch with the Licensing

Associate

Talk through your business plan; ask for a copy of the template license agreement

Meet with Your

Attorney

Meet with Your

Attorney

Have your attorney review the completed license agreement you plan to submit

NegotiateNegotiate

Remember the “What the TLO is Looking for

in a Licensee” slide

Meet with the

Licensing Associate

Meet with the

Licensing Associate

Talk through the license agreement and term sheet to make sure both of you are clear

Meet with the

Licensing Associate

Meet with the

Licensing Associate

Present your offer and talk through the agreement while providing justifications for financial terms and milestones

A Step-by-Step Approach to Licensing (cont.)

Page 6: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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Meet with Your Attorney

Meet with Your Attorney

Have your attorney review the final agreement to mitigate any risks to you or your company

Create Value in

Your Company

Create Value in

Your Company

Hire excellent people, develop products and services to satisfy real needs, and delight your customers

Change the World

Change the World

Inspire, encourage and mentor others to

become entrepreneurs and give back to

society

Sign the License

Agreement

Sign the License

Agreement

Ask what the TLO will be doing to assist your company after the agreement is signed

Pay Your Bills

Pay Your Bills

Reimburse your patent expenses & make required royalty payments

A Step-by-Step Approach to Licensing (cont.)

Page 7: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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What Not to Do—The Seven Deadly Sins

1. Call the Governor, University President, Chancellor, VPR, VCR, Dean or Department Chair in an attempt to get a sweeter deal

2. Have your attorney negotiate the agreement for you

3. Quote the financial terms in license agreements from other universities to justify your position

4. Remind the TLO how much research money you bring in and threaten to move to another university

5. Dream up schemes to avoid paying royalties, milestone payments or patent expenses

6. "Flip" the technology shortly after signing

7. Set up an IP holding company and pursue SBIR/STTR grants only to supplement your basic research funding with no intent to ever make any products or offer any services (the virtual company)

Page 8: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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What Really Matters

The history you create during the license negotiations1

The claims of the patent(s) (protectable and enforceable IP)2

The uniqueness & sustainability of your business model3

The quality of your management team & its ability to raise capital4

The novelty, quality & breadth of your science (platform technology)5Your passion, perseverance & willingness to give up control6

Your timing & luck7

The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.

- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's 

Page 9: A Practical Guide to Licensing Your Technology David Conrad Director, Office of Technology Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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David Conrad

[email protected]

402-570-6980

http://otd.unl.edu

Questions?