Step 4: Agreement Templates and Guidance Materials

Materials available for each agreement:

On this page:

1. Template agreement.

2. Plain English Guidance Document – a simple language version of the agreement to help you understand key legal terms and clauses, and your obligations under the agreement.

3. Agreement Pack - the relevant section from the Practical Guide outlining when (and when not) to use your chosen agreement and the key things to consider when negotiating and completing your agreement template, plus the guidance document and template agreement in one document.

Selling IP

Assignment Agreement

The Assignment Agreement is for use to legally transfer ownership of intellectual property (IP) from one party to another, for example when a party is the owner of IP developed by the other party under a joint research collaboration.

Licensing IP

Accelerated Non-Exclusive Licence Agreement

A licence agreement for an IP owner to licence IP Rights (IPR) (including IPR developed as part of a project) on a non-exclusive basis to the other party, either for non-commercial use or for low-risk commercialisation.

Licence Agreement (Non-exclusive Commercialisation)

A licence agreement for an IP owner to licence IP Rights (IPR) (including IPR developed as part of a project) on a non-exclusive basis to the other party for commercialisation.

Licence Agreement (Exclusive Commercialisation)

A licence agreement for an IP owner to licence IP Rights (IPR) (including IPR developed as part of a project) on an exclusive basis (e.g., by field of use or territory) to the other party for commercialisation.

Providing Services & Equipment

Equipment Licence Agreement

The Equipment Licence Agreement is for a party to access equipment from another party for a specified use and time period, for example when a company wishes to use equipment owned by the University for a specific project on its premises.

Technical (Consulting) Services Agreement

The Technical (Consulting) Services Agreement is for the provision of support services, for example when an industry partner wishes to purchase certain testing services from a university and this is being charged on a commercial/market rate basis.

Identifying & Protecting IP

Mutual Confidentiality Agreement

The Mutual Confidentiality Agreement is for the exchange of confidential information between two parties, for example for preliminary discussions about a future project.

Material Transfer Agreement

The Material Transfer Agreement is for the exchange of physical materials between two parties, for example for a company to test before entering a further research or licence agreement.

Developing IP through Collaboration

Accelerated Research Agreement

The Accelerated Research Agreement is for lower risk research and development projects between a collaborator and a university.

Standard Research Agreement

The Standard Research Agreement is for research and development projects between a collaborator and a university where it is not appropriate to use the Accelerated Research Agreement.

Multi-party Collaboration Agreement

The Multi-party Collaboration Agreement is for multi-party research and development projects between universities and companies.

Variation Agreement

Variation Agreement

The Variation Agreement is for use to alter the terms of any agreement previously signed by a University and Collaborator under the HERC IP Framework, for example to vary the terms of a licence or research agreement. Two templates are provided – one to vary any of the two-party agreements and one to vary the Multi-party Collaboration Agreement.

Practical Guide

For more information on when to use each agreement, and the key things to consider when completing the template for each agreement, go to Section 5 of the Practical Guide (page number 46 of the pdf version).