Intellectual Property (IP) and Licensing Policy
Institute of Applied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (IAAIR)
Last updated: 06/17/2025
1. Purpose
This policy defines how intellectual property (IP) developed at or in collaboration with the Institute of Applied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (IAAIR) is identified, protected, managed, and licensed. It ensures that innovations are used ethically, shared responsibly, and, when appropriate, commercialized in a way that aligns with IAAIR’s mission of advancing responsible, impactful, and human-centered AI.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all individuals engaged in work affiliated with IAAIR, including:
Faculty, researchers, and engineers
Postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, and interns
Contractors, consultants, and external collaborators
Project teams working under sponsored research or grant agreements
It covers all forms of intellectual property, including:
Inventions and patents
Software, algorithms, and source code
Machine learning models and datasets
Technical documentation and protocols
Creative works, educational materials, and designs
Trademarks and proprietary marks
3. Ownership of IP
3.1 Institute-Owned IP
Any intellectual property created:
Using IAAIR resources (e.g., facilities, equipment, funding)
Within the scope of IAAIR employment or research responsibilities
As part of an IAAIR-funded or sponsored project
is considered institutional property and owned by IAAIR unless otherwise specified in a written agreement.
3.2 Joint Ownership
In collaborative projects with other institutions or companies, ownership will be determined by the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), sponsored research agreement, or joint development agreement. Clear IP provisions must be established before project initiation.
3.3 Personal IP
IP developed entirely outside the scope of IAAIR responsibilities and without use of institutional resources is generally considered the personal property of the creator, subject to any applicable employment or funding agreements.
4. Disclosure of Inventions
All individuals affiliated with IAAIR must disclose any potentially patentable invention, software, or significant innovation developed during their time at IAAIR.
Disclosures must be submitted to the Office of Innovation and Intellectual Property (OIIP) using the official Invention Disclosure Form before:
Publishing or publicly presenting the work
Filing any external patents
Sharing the material with third parties
Posting code to open-source repositories
Early disclosure allows for proper IP protection and alignment with licensing strategy.
5. Licensing and Commercialization
IAAIR seeks to make its innovations available through appropriate licensing channels, including:
Open-source licenses (e.g., MIT, Apache, GPL)
Non-commercial research licenses for academic partners
Commercial licenses for industry partners and startups
Dual licensing (combining open and commercial terms) when applicable
Licensing terms are coordinated through the OIIP, with the goal of maximizing social benefit, sustainability, and alignment with responsible AI principles.
IAAIR may also pursue patent filings or technology transfer partnerships when innovations demonstrate commercial or public impact potential.
6. Revenue Sharing
If IP owned by IAAIR is licensed commercially, net revenue (after legal, administrative, and development costs), specific percentages will be outlined in the IAAIR Revenue Sharing Agreement signed upon invention disclosure or license execution.
7. Open Source Contributions
IAAIR supports and encourages the responsible use of open-source licensing for non-sensitive research outputs, particularly:
Reproducible machine learning models
Public datasets
Educational tools and documentation
Research software and utilities
Researchers must coordinate with the OIIP before releasing any IAAIR-affiliated code or data to open-source platforms (e.g., GitHub, Hugging Face, Zenodo) to ensure:
Proper licensing selection
Clearance of third-party components
Attribution and citation standards
Alignment with ethical and data privacy standards
8. Use of Third-Party IP
When using third-party datasets, libraries, codebases, or proprietary tools, IAAIR researchers must:
Ensure proper licensing and usage rights
Provide full attribution in publications and source code
Avoid incorporating components that restrict downstream sharing or conflict with IAAIR licensing goals
If uncertainty exists, consult the relevant IAAIR team before integration
9. IP in Publications and Public Presentations
Public dissemination of research (including conference papers, preprints, and presentations) may impact IP protection. Researchers must:
Disclose potential IP to the OIIP before publication
Avoid premature public disclosure of patentable inventions
Include proper attribution, copyright, and licensing statements in all published materials
If the research includes proprietary models, code, or data, these should be clearly marked as such with appropriate restrictions or access conditions.
10. Dispute Resolution
In cases where:
Inventorship is contested
Multiple parties claim IP rights
Licensing terms are disputed
IAAIR will mediate the matter through the Office of Innovation and Intellectual Property, in coordination with the Legal Office. Disputes may be escalated to the IAAIR Executive Leadership if necessary. External arbitration may be used in cases involving third-party institutions.
11. Training and Compliance
All IAAIR-affiliated personnel involved in research and development must complete annual IP training, covering:
Types of IP and institutional ownership
Best practices for code, data, and model management
Licensing strategies and open science
Common pitfalls and misuse of third-party tools
How to disclose and protect IP at IAAIR
Completion of training is required prior to submitting invention disclosures or releasing software.
12. Contact
For disclosures, licensing requests, or general IP support, contact:
Office of Innovation and Intellectual Property (OIIP):
📧 hello@iaair.ai