Materials transfer agreements (MTAs) are agreements between you, another scientist, and your respective institutions. An MTA allows you to share your research materials, such as a cell line, plant germplasm, a chemical compound or a polymer, with another scientist for research purposes, while protecting your intellectual property rights to the materials. You should always have an MTA in place before sending your research materials to someone outside your laboratory.
The questions below will guide you in determining which version of the MTA to provide to a researcher who has requested materials from you. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact your WARF licensing manager.
1. Are your materials part of a pending or issued WARF patent, or assigned to WARF as a "biological material"?
If the answer is yes, go to question 2.
If the answer is no, go to the UW-Madison Graduate School's Research and Sponsored Programs website to acquire a copy of the university's standard MTA.
2. Have you been contacted by a scientist from an academic or other non-profit institution OR by a researcher from a commercial entity?
If the researcher is from a commercial entity, go to 3.
If the researcher is from an academic or other non-profit institution, forward the inquiry to your licensing manager at WARF. Before you release your materials, this agreement should be signed by an authorized representative from the scientist's institution and received by your licensing manager at WARF. Your licensing manager will inform you when the signed MTA has been received.
Visit WARF's staff page to find your licensing manager's contact information
3. If the researcher is from a commercial entity, please direct his or her inquiry to your licensing manager at WARF.
Visit WARF's staff page to find your licensing manager's contact information
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