3.7 Policy of Withholding Theses Pending Patent Applications
In 1970 the Board of Governors and Senate approved a policy on accepting research grants from outside agencies. This policy defined the right of agencies to defer release of information and thus ensure freedom of publications for research findings of University personnel. Occasionally, the University may also wish to restrict the release of a thesis pending patent application. This policy statement parallels the previous one in that it defines the right of the University to defer the release of a thesis and thus ensures freedom of publication for the research findings of a graduate student.

This situation may arise in two circumstances which are defined below and both of which are governed by the same set of regulations.

When a research project is known to contain patentable items as defined in the research contract, then it is the responsibility of the advisor to give written information of the restrictions on publication to the student prior to the start of the thesis research. If the student agrees to carry out the research, then the regulations given below will apply.

Where a patentable item is found during the course of research, then the advisor and the student may make application for patent rights through the University Patent Committee, and the following regulations will apply concerning the release of the thesis.

Regulations Concerning Release Of A Thesis During Application And Negotiation For Patents

The Dean of Graduate Studies will receive the approved thesis and copies of it as required by the Faculty regulations. On written joint request of the advisor and the student, the Dean will keep the thesis and copies of it in his/her office for a period up to one year.