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UH Innovation

Intellectual Property Licensing Options

Simplify research. Secure your ideas. Create lasting impact.

The UH Preferred IP Program (PIPP) streamlines the process of sponsoring research and licensing the resulting technology at the University of Houston. Designed to be industry-friendly, PIPP offers upfront clarity on costs, and provides multiple options to fit your commercialization strategy.

Key Features

  • Industry-Friendly Terms: Pre-negotiated license structures help eliminate uncertainty for sponsors.
  • Sponsor-Controlled Patenting: You oversee patent prosecution and pay all associated costs, coordinating with UH on patent claims.
  • Flexible Licensing: Choose from multiple licensing pathways—exclusive or nonexclusive—with predictable costs, minimal royalties, and built-in thresholds.

Licensing Options

  1. Option A: Conventional Approach (if neither Option B nor Option C is selected)
    • No Upfront Fee
    • Negotiate a non-exclusive or exclusive, royalty-bearing license after the project concludes.
    • Ideal if you prefer to gauge the technology’s value before committing to licensing terms.
  2. Option B: Exclusive, Upfront Certainty
    • Upfront Fee: 15% of project cost or $30K (whichever is greater)
    • Exclusive Worldwide License to all project inventions.
    • Royalties: 1% on net sales exceeding $20M/year.
    • Sublicensing terms, royalty caps, and other specifics are negotiable.
    • Both Sponsor and PI must agree.
  3. Option C: Nonexclusive, Upfront Savings
    • Upfront Fee: 10% of project cost or $10K (whichever is greater)
    • Nonexclusive, Royalty-Free License—no ongoing royalties.
    • No sub-licensing or cross-licensing permitted.
    • Flexible for broad usage within your organization.
    • Both Sponsor and PI must agree.

Why Choose UH PIPP?

  • Streamlined Negotiations: Clear, up-front options reduce back-and-forth discussions.
  • Control & Certainty: You manage patenting strategies while benefiting from UH’s cutting-edge research.
  • Built-In Cost Threshold: Royalty obligations for exclusive licenses only kick in after high-volume sales ($20M/year).