University of Pittsburgh Required
Intellectual Property Assignment

Pitt IP Rights Assignment Form

VA and Pitt Dual Rights Assignment Form

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

WHO IS REQUIRED TO HAVE AN IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ON FILE WITH THE UNIVERSITY?

All Pitt principal investigators and employees (other than clerical or nontechnical personnel) named on a federal contract or grant effective or renewed on or after May 14, 2018 will be required to have an IP assignment agreement on file at the Innovation Institute.  Pitt research personnel who must comply include, but are not limited to, principal investigators (PIs), investigators, research associates, postdoctoral associates, and research staff.

Graduate students, Postdoctoral Scholars, and undergraduates are not required to complete these IP assignment agreements to be supported on Federal grants or contracts (unless they are submitting a proposal through the Office of Sponsored Programs – OSP) and in any event they are subject to Pitt’s IP policies.

DO PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS NEED TO HAVE AN IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ON FILE AT THE INNOVATION INSTITUTE?

Yes, if the principal investigator is named on any federal contract or grant effective or renewed on or after May 14, 2018, an IP Assignment agreement must be on file at the Innovation Institute.

DO POSTDOCS NEED TO HAVE AN IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ON FILE AT THE INNOVATION INSTITUTE?

A postdoctoral researcher with a transitional position preparatory to an academic or research career may hold an appointment as a Postdoctoral Associate or as a Postdoctoral Scholar The requirements for IP assignment agreements depend on the nature of the appointment.  Specifically:

Yes, an IP assignment agreement must be on file at the Innovation Institute if a postdoc is employed as a Postdoctoral Associate and supported on any federal contract or grant effective or renewed on or after May 14, 2018.

No, an IP assignment agreement does not need to be on file at the Innovation Institute if a postdoc is appointed as a Postdoctoral Scholar supported by training grants, postdoctoral fellowships, or external funding not subject to Bayh-Dole.

DO GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHERS NEED TO HAVE AN IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ON FILE AT THE INNOVATION INSTITUTE?

No, graduate students are not required to sign these IP assignment agreements to be supported on federal grants or contracts unless they are submitting a proposal through the Office of Sponsored Programs – OSP.  They are still subject to the University Policy on intellectual property and terms of other non-federal support that they may receive.

DO STAFF NEED TO HAVE AN IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ON FILE AT THE INNOVATION INSTITUTE?

Yes, if the staff member is named on any federal contract or grant effective or renewed on or after May 14, 2018, an IP assignment agreement must be on file at the Innovation Institute, unless they are clerical or nontechnical personnel.

DO UNDERGRADUATES NEED TO HAVE AN IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ON FILE AT THE INNOVATION INSTITUTE?

No, undergraduates are first and foremost students, even if they are compensated as student employees, and do not need to sign these IP assignment agreements to be supported on federal grants or contracts. They remain subject to the University policy on intellectual property and terms of other non-federal support they may receive.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A NEW RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, OR RESEARCH STAFF MEMBER IS ADDED TO A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECT?

New research personnel added to a federally funded research project on or after May 14, 2018, who are employees, must complete an IP assignment agreement, and the agreement must be filed with the Innovation Institute.

DO I NEED TO SIGN AN IP ASSIGNMENT IF I HAVE DUAL APPOINTMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY AND THE VA?

Yes, you will need to sign both a University of Pittsburgh assignment form and a VA assignment form.  For convenience, a two page versions of the VA form as the second page, is also available.

I SIGNED AN IP RIGHTS ASSIGNMENT BEFORE. WHY I AM BEING ASKED TO SIGN A NEW ONE?

Previous versions of Pitt’s IP rights assignment agreement may not have been in compliance with the latest federal regulations (e.g., the Bayh-Dole Act). The updated IP rights assignment agreement is designed to fulfill these requirements, enabling the University to meet its legal obligations under federal law.

The University also enters into contracts with external partners, including sponsored research agreements, material transfer agreements, and collaboration agreements, all of which often require a written invention assignment to be in place before any work begins. These agreements are legally binding and typically include terms that obligate the University to secure intellectual property rights in advance.

Additionally, certain internal funding programs at Pitt carry the same IP assignment requirement. The updated IP rights assignment agreement ensures that the University can meet its commitments under both external and internal funding arrangements.

For more information on the Bayh-Dole Act, review 35 U.S.C. 200, Bayh-Dole Regulations FAQs, or NIH Notice Regarding 2018 Bayh-Dole Act Final Rule.

IP ASSIGNMENT PROCESS

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS?

Principal Investigators should work with their departments, schools, or centers to obtain IP assignment agreements on an ongoing basis from members of the research team supported by PIs’ federal contracts or grants.

WHERE DO I SEND MY SIGNED IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT?

The IP Rights Assignment is required to be executed using DocuSign. Go here to access the form:

• University of Pittsburgh – Intellectual Property Rights Assignment
• Intellectual Property Rights Assignment for Dual University of Pittsburgh/VA Employees

If you experience any issues with the form, contact us and let us know.

WHEN DO I SUBMIT SIGNED IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS?

Completed IP assignment agreements may be submitted at any time to the Innovation Institute, even before a proposal for federal funding is submitted to the Office of Sponsored Programs

IP assignment agreements must be submitted when a federal proposal is funded, because IP assignment agreements are required before a federal grant or contract can be activated.

 

CONTACTS FOR QUESTIONS

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT SUBMISSION PROCESS?

Questions related to the IP assignment agreement submission process should be addressed to IPAssignmentform@innovation.pitt.edu.

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT ADDITIONS TO THESE FAQS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT IP IN GENERAL?

Questions about these FAQs, suggestions for additions to these FAQs, or questions about IP in general should be addressed to IPQuestions@pitt.edu