HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ITEM: HFHS Intellectual Property Policy
The Henry Ford Health System Intellectual Property Policy updates the Patent Policy approved by the Henry Ford Hospital Board of Trustees in October 1978 and revised in November 1995. It was developed by an Ad Hoc Intellectual Property Committee with the assistance of Corporate Legal Affairs. It will be managed under the auspices of the Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer.
As used in this Policy, Henry Ford Health System or HFHS means the Henry Ford Health System and all affiliated entities and institutions.
ACTION: Resolution RESOLVED,
Henry Ford Health System hereby adopts the following Intellectual Property Policy:
PURPOSE. This Intellectual Property Policy supports the Mission of Henry Ford Health System through the promotion of its clinical care, research, and related business activities that leads to improved health, prevention of disease and the improved diagnosis and treatment of disease. This Intellectual Property Policy is specifically designed:
(1) to encourage the development of intellectual property by Creators of Henry Ford Health System;
(2) to enable inventions or discoveries or innovations of Henry Ford Health System to be utilized to benefit the public;
(3) to safeguard the Intellectual Property of Henry Ford Health System so that it may receive appropriate protection in accordance with the law; and
(4) to provide for equitable distribution of ownership and royalty interests among Creators, Henry Ford Health System and, when applicable, a sponsor or licensee.
This policy establishes guidelines for (1) determining the interests of Henry Ford Health System, Creators, sponsors and licensees with regard to all types and forms of ideas, inventions, developments, discoveries, refinements, conceptions, innovations, know-how and improvements, including but not limited to computer software programs, computer logic and computer systems and databases including the goodwill associated therewith (collectively referred to in this Policy as "Intellectual Property") arising out of the conduct of research activities at or associated with HFHS and/or created or produced by Creators as a result of scientific investigation; (2) the commercialization and protection of such Intellectual Property through patents copyrights and other means for technology transfer; and (3) the financial arrangements and royalty distribution methods with respect to the license, sale, marketing, and distribution of Intellectual Property .
In general, books and articles of a primarily professional or scholarly nature are not included within the purview of this Policy. All Intellectual Property, or other confidential or proprietary information created by HFHS employees within the scope of their employment or by third parties pursuant to consulting or other contractual arrangements shall be owned by HFHS but are not subject to the Distribution of Proceeds provision of this Policy; all revenue from such shall be retained by HFHS.
APPLICABILITY. This policy applies to all individuals who satisfy both of the following requirements:
(1) are full or part-time Henry Ford Health System employees, trainees, students or volunteers, or have a contractual or appointment relationship with Henry Ford Health System and/or its operating divisions, including all categories of the Medical Staffs of Henry Ford Health System hospitals and medical centers; and
(2) receive financial support from Henry Ford Health System or from private or governmental entities and sponsors, or use Henry Ford Health System resources (including, but not limited to, the facilities, material, equipment, staff, intellectual property or time of Henry Ford Health System) to develop Intellectual Property.
Individuals meeting the applicability requirements set forth above
are referred to in this Policy as "Creators".
All Creators must comply with this Policy and the procedures promulgated hereunder, as the same may be amended or revised from time to time, as a condition of their participating in their work and/or research at Henry Ford Health System, and/or their respective use of Henry Ford Health System resources.
ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. The Chief Executive Officer of Henry Ford Health System shall have authority for the administration of this Policy. The Chief Executive Officer shall delegate authority for procedural implementation of this Policy to an appropriate corporate administrative officer called the Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer. An Intellectual Property Committee (the "Committee") shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Chief Executive Officer. Membership on the Committee shall reflect the broad interests of Henry Ford Health System. The Committee shall report to the Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer and will have such duties as described in the Procedures for Implementation of the Henry Ford Health System Intellectual Property Policy.
OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Henry Ford Health System holds exclusive proprietary interest in all Intellectual Property created by Creators, as well as all profits generated as a result of commercialization of such Intellectual Property, to the extent the Intellectual Property is developed, refined, made, conceived, discovered, improved, contributed to, derived, or enhanced as a result of an Individual’s contractual, employment, appointment or other relationship with Henry Ford Health System or use of Henry Ford Health System resources. Ownership of Intellectual Property that results from sponsored and/or collaborative research or other agreement between HFHS and a third party shall be subject to negotiation with the sponsor and/or other party and governed by the terms and conditions of the contracts and agreements with the sponsor or other third party.
DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS. Net Proceeds derived by Henry Ford Health System from the commercialization of Intellectual Property shall be shared with the Creator on the basis of a determination made by Henry Ford Health System in its sole discretion. “Net Proceeds” is defined in the Procedures for Implementation of the Henry Ford Health System Intellectual Property Policy.. Generally, Net Proceeds shall be distributed as follows: 50% distributed to the Creator, and the remaining 50% distributed to Henry Ford Health System. In the event that there is more than one Creator from Henry Ford Health System, then 50% of the Net Proceeds shall be distributed to the Creators in proportion to their respective contributions, and the remaining 50% retained by Henry Ford Health System.
This Policy shall be effective upon approval by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.
This Policy may be changed at any time at the discretion of the Board of Trustees or the Executive Committee thereof.
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Approved by Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Henry Ford Health System on ______.