TTOs must make sure that their partners live up to the commitments they made in the negotiating process. In general terms, these include:
- Providing information via reports;
- Providing evidence of meeting the technical progress milestones that the licensee committed to by the date it committed to meet them;
- Providing evidence of insurance;
- Providing copies of any sublicenses;
- Making specified payments.
In newer offices where the number of agreements is modest, the case manager should probably do the agreement administration. In larger, longer established offices, often a different staff member monitors all the agreements that are in effect and manages any upcoming due dates in concert with the case manager.
It is polite to allow two or three days to pass after a deadline before contacting the licensee, however, do not let it go longer than a week overdue before contacting them. The further a company gets behind on payments, the harder it will be to get them current.
The TTP should feel empowered to tell the partner how much it owes the university, and that payment is due. If the commercial partner is having problems, either with the technology or with their business, it’s important to discuss such issues sooner rather than later. If it’s lost interest in the technology, the TTP must try to reclaim it and find a new licensee.