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Tools for Technology License Negotiation (Patent/Copyright) Mark Reeves Oak Ridge National Laboratory Albuquerque, New Mexico April 26, 2010
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2 Agenda Strategy Development - Technology-based Strategy - Company-based Strategy The License Application - Business Plan Pro Forma Financials - IP Valuation Calculation Term Sheet Questions
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3 Disclaimer! The course will: - Provide tips on what has worked in the past when negotiating licenses and other agreements - Share tools that have been successful - Help you avoid the effects of misinformation or lack of information Not the only way to do this business PLEASE SPEAK FREELY—DISAGREE, OFFER ALTERNATIVES, ASK QUESTIONS!
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4 Agenda Strategy Development - Technology-based Strategy - Company-based Strategy The License Application - Business Plan Pro Forma Financials - IP Valuation Calculation Term Sheet Questions
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5 Strategy Development Good way of recording data about the technology portfolio and the institution’s goals in licensing Offers a way to allow management and inventor participation/approval in developing the strategy - Keeps everyone on the same sheet of music - Could be very useful if future internal disputes arise Will be a “living” document (many updates as new data are gathered) Develop a Formal, Technology-based Licensing Strategy
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6 Develop a Formal, Technology-based Licensing Strategy (Cont.) An internal formal document, with management approval Documents the: - State of the intellectual property/technology - Market - Competition - Fields of use - Candidate licensees - Pricing parameters - Other key factors Strategy Development (Cont.)
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7 Attachment A—Technology-based Licensing Strategy Template
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8 Strategy Development (Cont.) Assume we have an expression of licensing interest and need to formulate a term sheet (i.e., outline of proposed license agreement) We’re looking for an indication of ability to perform Qualify the Partner
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9 Strategy Development (Cont.) Diligence on prospective licensee(s) - Dun & Bradstreet reports - Company website - SEC filings (http://www.sec.gov), Yahoo! Finance, Motley Fool, etc. - Google them! -Income statement & balance sheet Qualify the Partner (Cont.)
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10 Strategy Development (Cont.) Diligence on prospective licensee(s) (Cont.) -Formal market opportunity analysis -Proprietary databases -Market reports -Etc. - History on new product introduction - Technology licensing history -“Dirt?” - Stable market player Reference librarians are a superb resource! Qualify the Partner (Cont.)
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11 Strategy Development (Cont.) In addition to information already in the “Technology-based Licensing Strategy,” document company-specific information that may be: - Critical in determining if this candidate is a good licensing prospect - Very useful during any negotiations that may ensue Update Licensing Strategy to “Company-based”
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12 Strategy Development (Cont.) Attachment B—Company-based Licensing Strategy Template
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13 Agenda Strategy Development - Technology-based Strategy - Company-based Strategy The License Application - Business Plan Pro Forma Financials - IP Valuation Calculation Term Sheet Questions
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14 License Application A License application should provide you essential data from which to produce a term sheet. - Specific company data (company name, state of incorporation, contact info) - Verify the authority of the company’s negotiator and signatory - Financial data (pro forma on revenues and margins based on products commercialized from your IP) provided by the candidate licensee - Information to help you with export control issues, exclusivity determination, fields of use, etc. Probably the most useful tool in the toolkit Discourages tire-kickers!
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15 License Application (Cont.) From the license application and its associated business plan and pro forma financials, calculate the financial consideration: - Up-front fee - Minimum annual fee - % sales - Perhaps equity - Perhaps sponsored research Calculate the potential profits and use the “25%” rule Base the term sheet consideration on their financials, where possible
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16 Attachment C—Technology License Application Template License Application (Cont.)
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17 Attachment D—Execution Fee, Royalty Rate, and Minimum Annual Royalty Calculations Based on Business Plan Pro Forma Financials License Application (Cont.)
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18 Agenda Strategy Development - Technology-based Strategy - Company-based Strategy The License Application - Business Plan Pro Forma Financials - IP Valuation Calculation Term Sheet Questions
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19 Term Sheet Term sheet should provide your first offer to candidate licensee regarding - Royalty rate - License fee - Expectations on licensee bearing cost of IP protection - Key legal terms (indemnification, warranties) - Sublicensing - Termination - Perhaps equity - Perhaps sponsored research - Etc. Calculate the potential profits and use the “25%” rule Base the term sheet consideration on their financials, where possible Always ask for more than you expect to get
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20 Attachment E—Term Sheet Template Term Sheet (Cont.)
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21 Agenda Strategy Development - Technology-based Strategy - Company-based Strategy The License Application - Business Plan Pro Forma Financials - IP Valuation Calculation Term Sheet Template Questions
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22 Followup/Questions ??? Mark Reeves Oak Ridge National Laboratory reevesme@ornl.gov (865) 576-2577
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