Areas of Potential Disputes Franoise Chardonnens Industrial Relations

Areas of Potential Disputes Françoise Chardonnens Industrial Relations Office Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 1

EPFL’s Statistics ► 6’ 200 students ► 265 professors ► 1800 scientific staff ►Budget : CHF 547 millions of which 25% from external sources WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 2

Industrial Relations Office (2004) ►Staff : 7 ►Research agreements : 254 ►Invention disclosures : 60 ►Priority patent applications : 41 ►License agreements : 41 ►Start-ups : 8 WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 3

“Sideground” IP ►Multiple sponsored research projects § § § A day-to-day issue Strategic decisions needed Exclusivity vs non-exclusivity WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 4

Royalties ► « x % of the Net Sales » § § Define licensed products / processes Address different scenarios Arms’ length conditions Minimum royalties WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 5

Program of non-exclusive licenses ►Improvements patent litigation between licensees § Impose cross-licensing § Licensor to avoid “arbitrator” position WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 6

Infringements of Licensed Products ►Plurality of licenses § Which obligations for the licensor ? § Which rights for the licensees ? WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 7

Some keys ►Be sure to have same understanding ►Build trust with your partner ►Avoid overstatements ►Address problems early WIPO Conference April 25, 2005 8