How are IP issues dealt with between depositors and users ?
A pre-requisite for depositing in the UK Stem Cell Bank is that the owner of the stem cell line signs a Materials Deposition Agreement (MDA) with the Bank agreeing to make the stem cell line available to requestors for research purposes, on terms of access to be negotiated between the depositor and any future requestor in the Materials Use Licence (MUL). A pre-requisite for approval to access banked stem cell lines is a MUL negotiated between the requestor and the depositor setting out the rights of expectation and ownership of any intellectual property arising out of the research conducted by the requestor. A successful application to the Steering Committee to access stem cell lines will then require the completion of a Materials Access Agreement (MAA) between the Bank and the requestor before cell lines are released. A specimen MAA and guidance on MULs is provided in the annexes that accompany the Code of Practice for the UK Stem Cell Bank available on the MRC website.
