CLEAR-IP Overview
Stony Brook’s Commercial Licensing and Express IP terms for Applied Research (CLEAR-IP) is a fast-track program for industry partners designed to move SBU intellectual property (IP) from sponsored research to the marketplace more efficiently. CLEAR-IP helps industry partners realize economic and societal benefits from working with the University sooner than with traditional models.
CLEAR-IP Licensing Options
CLEAR-IP gives industry partners three flexible licensing pathways to access intellectual property developed through applied research at Stony Brook University. This initiative is designed to simplify commercialization and reduce time to market.
Many companies will find the Pre-Paid Commercial Non-Exclusive Royalty-Free (NERF) License the most attractive option, as it provides immediate access to project IP without ongoing royalty obligations, offering cost certainty and faster project launches. Other businesses will prefer the Exclusive Commercial License for companies seeking sole rights to project intellectual property without the time and expense of on ongoing negotiations. Finally, the Traditional License option provides ndustry partners that seek the ability to evaluate the resulting project IP with opportunity to do so before negotiating for commercial rights in any IP developed by the University under the project.Overall, CLEAR-IP provides companies looking to partner with Stony Brook on innovative research projects with the flexibility to meet their individual needs while providing access to project IP.
Option 1: Pre-Paid Commercial Non-Exclusive Royalty Free (NERF) License
For industry partners that do not need exclusive commercial rights but still require access to the project IP, the NERF License option provides companies with broad, worldwide rights to project IP with a single upfront payment and without the burden of ongoing royalties or complex negotiations.
The NERF License option also provides flexibility to businesses who may want exclusive rights in the future. It is ideal for businesses that want to move innovations from research to market quickly while keeping budgets predictable.
Key Features
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One-time fixed fee: Greater of $10,000 or 15% of the total project budget, payable upon invoicing.
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Broad rights: Applies to all fields of use.
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Global reach: License valid worldwide.
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Business partner flexibility: Allows engagement of a bona fide business partner for manufacturing or selling products/services on behalf of the sponsoring company.
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Exclusive upgrade option: Free 6-month exclusive option to negotiate a fee-bearing exclusive license to the University’s rights in the project IP.
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Streamlined process: Non-negotiable, industry-vetted terms for maximum speed and efficiency.
View Non-Exclusive Royalty Free (NERF) License Template
Option 2: Exclusive Commercial License
For companies seeking sole rights to project IP, the Exclusive Commercial License option provides worldwide exclusivity in all fields of use on industry-vetted terms while still maintaining Stony Brook’s ability to use the intellectual property for research and education. This option is ideal for industry partners that desire maximum rights in project IP upfront.
Key Features
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One-time fixed fee: Greater of $15,000 or 20% of the total project budget, payable upon invoicing.
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Royalty terms: 1% royalty on net sales, beginning once cumulative product/service sales exceed $20 million.
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Global exclusivity: Applies to all fields of use and is valid worldwide.
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Sublicensing rights: Ability to sublicense to third parties.
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IP management: Company controls and funds all preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of project IP.
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University retained rights:
- Internal research and educational use.
- Permission for other educational and nonprofit institutions to use the IP for their own internal research and educational purposes.
- Publication and dissemination of information about the licensed project IP.
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Streamlined reporting: Standard annual royalty and commercial development reporting.
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Streamlined terms: Non-negotiable for efficiency.
View Exclusive License Template
Option 3: Traditional
The Traditional option follows a standard sponsored-research licensing process, making it a familiar option for companies seeking a flexible, case-by-case negotiation. While it may take longer to finalize than CLEAR-IP’s NERF or Exclusive License options, the Traditional approach still provides valuable early rights and a defined path toward commercialization.
Key Features
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Non-exclusive research rights: Free license to use the project IP for research purposes.
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Exclusive option window: Free 3-month exclusive option (starting from IP disclosure) to negotiate a fee-bearing commercial license (non-exclusive or exclusive license).
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Flexible terms: Commercial license terms are fully negotiable, allowing for tailored agreements.
View Traditional License Template
Terms Applicable to all CLEAR-IP Options
- Project IP including research results, patents, copyright, software generated under a company sponsored research agreement.
- Commercial rights to any University pre-existing background IP are excluded from all CLEAR-IP options to maximize efficiency, but these can be separately negotiated as applicable.
- Commercially reasonable due diligence in bringing products or processes to market.
- Standard government compliance terms as applicable (eg. Bayh-Dole).
- Upon completion of the project, a new technology disclosure (NTD) must be submitted to Intellectual Property Partners (IPP) listing the faculty, staff and students that contributed to the development of the Project IP using IPP’s Inventor Portal.
CLEAR-IP Scope and Applicability
For specific eligibility criteria and exclusions, see the full CLEAR-IP Scope and Applicability Guidelines.
Process with Respect to Faculty
Participating faculty must acknowledge and adhere to their responsibilities as Principal Investigators (PIs), including disclosure and IP compliance obligations under CLEAR-IP. Listing (in the SOW) of all pre-existing, university-owned intellectual property (NTDs, patent applications, software) developed by the PI/Co-PI’s laboratories that will be used in carrying out the project.