What is a confidentiality agreement?
Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDA’s) and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA’s) are
standard tools used to facilitate the exchange of confidential and proprietary technical
and business information in a manner that provides confidence to the parties that such
information will be maintained as confidential. Access to confidential information should
not be taken lightly. Significant responsibility is afforded during the exchange of
confidential information.
What is a materials transfer agreement?
Similar in function as confidentiality agreements, Material Transfer Agreements (MTA’s)
establish terms of confidentiality and use of tangible material that is exchanged between
parties. MTA’s also specify how the material may be used. An MTA should be used if
material, such as biological materials, software, or other tangible material, is made
available for use or review by an academic colleague from another institution or to a
potential corporate collaborator or licensee. MTA’s also serve to minimize the risk
associated with transferring materials between parties.
Who can sign confidentiality and materials transfer agreements?
Only authorized individuals may sign confidentiality and materials transfer agreements.
This authority has been delegated to the Director of the Office of Technology Transfer.
However, principal investigators will be asked to sign on a Read and Understood line to
provide the institution assurance that they understand and will comply with the terms
of the agreement.
What is an inter-institutional agreement?
An inter-organizational agreement (IIA) is typically established when inventorship for an
invention resides with inventors for multiple institutions. The purpose of an IIA is for the
parties to agree up-front on roles and responsibilities for managing the patent portfolio
and licensing activities. Usually one party agrees to be the "lead institution" with varying
degrees of support provided by the other institutions.
