Intellectual Property

Central to UNMC’s mission is the creation and dissemination of knowledge.

Patents

UNeMed researches the patentability and marketability of UNMC inventions before deciding whether to seek patent protection.  To be patented, an invention must: 1) be novel, 2) have utility, and 3) be non-obvious.

Copyrights

In general, PIs retain the right to publish the results of their sponsored projects.  Sponsors may ask to review or to be acknowledged as a funder.  A PI is generally not obligated to seek sponsor approval or make sponsor requested changes.  One possible exception is confidential information.

PIs may be required to make the results of their sponsored project publicly available.  For example, NIH-funded investigators are required by Federal law to submit to PubMed Central an electronic version of the final, peer-reviewed manuscript upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication.

Data Ownership

In general, PIs own rights in data resulting from sponsored projects.  Sponsored projects are not works for hire, and thus the sponsor does not own the data.

Data sharing is essential for expedited translation of research results into knowledge, products, and procedures to improve human health.  Sponsors generally endorses the sharing of final research data.  One exception is personal health information.