Can I share materials using a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)?
Yes, if materials are not the subject of a patent or patent application, the MTA can be used to share materials with non-profit institutions for research purposes. If the recipient is a commercial entity or the material is the subject of a patent or patent application, contact your Technology Development Coordinator or TTO for assistance in determining the appropriate mechanism. When is a license used instead of a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)? Licenses are the appropriate mechanism for distribution of non-patented materials to commercial entities and for distribution of patented or patent pending inventions. The type of license employed and the terms of the license are determined on a case-by-case basis by the Licensing Specialist in TTO. Can anybody license my invention? Yes, unless the invention has already been exclusively licensed or foreign trade restrictions apply. Does my invention have to be patented to be licensed? No, when distributing non-patented materials to commercia
