Intellectual Property Advisory Group (IPAG)

The Intellectual Property Advisory Group shall be responsible to the Research & Innovation Committee for the following matters, and shall report to the Research & Innovation Committee, making recommendations as appropriate:

(a) the provision of advice on general policy issues pertaining to the management and exploitation of the University’s intellectual property;

(b) the provision of advice on the University’s Intellectual Property Policy, its implementation and disputes arising in respect of these matters;

(c) the consideration and resolution of disputes, or their referral as appropriate to the Research Committee, about matters concerning intellectual property management and technology transfer (such as the distribution of equity shares in spin-out companies amongst inventors, the University, and investors);

(d) the provision of advice to the Vice-Chancellor to assist his or her role in the arbitration of disagreements between inventors over revenue-sharing arrangements;

(e) the giving of advice to the Director of Research Services and the Managing Director of Oxford University Innovation on specific proposals for the exploitation of the University’s intellectual property through sponsored research or licence agreements [1], bearing in mind the need to balance commercial considerations with academic and other concerns;

(f) the referral of matters associated with the management of intellectual property, as appropriate, to the Committee on Conflict of Interest, in particular to ensure that risks are minimised (for example in connection with the acceptance of research sponsorship from spin-out companies in which the principal investigator has an equity interest);

(g) contribute to, and provide advice on University responses to Government on national initiatives pertaining to intellectual property, technology transfer or related issues;

(h) providing guidance and advice to the relevant University bodies on education and training matters relating to intellectual property and technology transfer;

(i) in addition, IPAG may report to GPC on matters pertaining to the University’s intellectual property that fall within GPC’s remit.