What types of provisions govern the receipt by DFCI of materials from the outside?
DFCI appreciates the willingness of companies and other outside entities to allow our researchers to use their materials. However, given our status as a non-profit research institute, DFCI, by law, must follow certain practices. For example, DFCI cannot assign inventions made using outside materials back to the provider of the materials. As most of our funding comes from the NIH, we are required to retain title and cannot assign it to a third party. Also, as a tax exempt, charitable institution, tax laws prohibit us from pre-setting royalties or other financial terms for the disposition of intellectual property.
