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

2. 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

3. 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

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

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

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

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

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