IP Commercialization Pathways

UC Berkeley offers a variety of approaches for companies interested in leveraging the innovations developed by UC Berkeley researchers. These approaches facilitate the rapid and widespread commercialization of innovations for public benefit, while also funding the academic research and education that drive future breakthroughs.

Pathways for Intellectual Property Commercialization
Type of Intellectual PropertyAgreementStartup Equity GrantFuture Investment Participation RightsRoyalties on Future RevenueLicense Fees (Up-Front and Distributed)
Patent rights owned by University of California Invention Patent Right License Agreement (Exclusive or Non-Exclusive) Yes, negotiable Up to 5% of a future investment round Yes, negotiable Yes, negotiable; patent costs reimbursed
Software copyrights owned by University of California and not open-sourced Software Copyright License Agreement (Exclusive or Non-Exclusive) Yes, negotiable Up to 5% of a future investment round Yes, negotiable Yes, negotiable
Software code and AI model non-code components owned, and open-sourced, by University of California Open Source Software Startup Good-Standing Agreement Up to 1% Pro-rata investment rights in the next investment round No No
Non-patent, non-copyright IP developed with university resources Innovation Access Agreement No Up to 2% of a future investment round No No