+ HOME

Licensing
Patent License Application

To apply for a license, the interested party should submit an application for license in accordance with 37 C.F.R. 404.8. The application, at a minimum, should contain the following lettered paragraphs:

Paragraph (a)In this paragraph, please identify the invention for which a license is desired. The invention must be identified by either the patent application serial number (in the case of a pending patent), the patent number (in the case of an issued patent) or the NASA case number. Preferably, the title of the invention and the issue date of the patent should also be given.

Paragraph (b) In this paragraph, please identify the type of license being applied for (e.g., exclusive, partially exclusive, or non-exclusive, etc.) and any desired limitations (e.g., field of use, geographic, etc.).

Paragraph (c) In this paragraph, please identify the applicant. Give the name and address of the person, company or organization applying for the license. Where applicable, give citizenship, place of incorporation, and the name of the parent corporation.

Paragraph (d) In this paragraph, please list the name, address and telephone number of the applicant's representative with whom correspondence should be held. The representative should have authority to conduct licensing negotiations.

Paragraph (e) In this paragraph, please describe the nature and type of applicant's business. This description should include any products or services that the applicant has successfully commercialized and the approximate number of people employed by the applicant.

Paragraph (f) In this paragraph, please explain how the applicant became aware of the invention sought to be licensed.

Paragraph (g) In this paragraph, please indicate whether the applicant is a small business concern. A small business concern is one that is independently owned and operated and generally has less than 500 employees.

Paragraph (h) In this paragraph, please provide a detailed description of the applicant's plan for development and/or marketing the invention. At a minimum, the plan should include:

(1) A statement of anticipated investment of capital and other resources the applicant believes will be necessary to bring the invention to practical application. This statement shall include the nature, amount and timing of such anticipated investments.
(2) A statement indicating the applicant's capability and intention to fulfill this plan for development and/or marketing. With regard to the applicant's capability, this statement shall include information pertaining to the applicant's manufacturing, marketing, financial, and technical resources (a balance sheet, an income statement, and/or an annual report would also be helpful here). With regard to the applicant's intention, this statement should include a timeline of key steps or milestones the applicant believes will be required to bring the invention to practical application.
(3) A statement of the fields of use in which the applicant intends to practice the invention.
(4) A statement of the geographic areas in which the applicant intends to manufacture any products embodying the invention and the geographic areas where the applicant intends to use or sell any products embodying the invention.

Paragraph (i) In this paragraph, please identify any licenses that were previously granted to the applicant under any Federally owned inventions.

Paragraph (j) In this paragraph, please provide a statement, containing the applicant's best knowledge, pertaining to the extent the invention is being practiced by private industry, the Government, or both, and the extent the invention is commercially available.

Paragraph (k) In this paragraph, please provide any other information the applicant believes will support a determination to grant the requested license to the applicant.