The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) negotiates with the private sector the licensing of USDA patented technologies, pursuant to the policy and objectives set forth in the 1980 amendments to the Patent and Trademark Laws (Bayh-Dole) Act and the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986. Companies interested in licensing USDA technology can obtain a license application online or from an OTT licensing staff member.
License fees and royalties are negotiated on a case by case basis and depend upon several factors including the scope of the rights granted, the size of the potential market, and the time and financial investment required by the licensee to bring a product to market. Information provided by the license applicant concerning the product concept, market size, profitability, and additional research and development required prior to product introduction is used to determine fair fees and royalties for each invention.
Licenses can be granted both exclusively and non-exclusively or by specific field of use. Negotiated royalty rates are based upon the anticipated profit margins for the products to be marketed by the licensee.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting:
June Blalock USDA/Agricultural Research Service Office of Technology Transfer (301) 504-5989 / fax: (301) 504-5060 e-mail: license@ars.usda.gov
Janet Stockhausen USDA/Forest Service (608) 231-9502 / Fax: (608) 231-9508 e-mail: jistockh@facstaff.wisc.edu
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