Office of Technology Development (OTD)

 Patenting & Licensing Process

Licensing to an established company is less risky than licensing to a new company. Typically, established companies have the financial resources in hand to continue the development of a commercial product. Moreover, they may sponsor some research in the inventors' laboratories. Established companies will pay an upfront license fee as well as milestone and royalty payments. Thus, revenue from an invention may begin soon after licensing.