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No. 31745
Act No. 51, 2008
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22 DECEMBER 2008
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FROM PUBLICLY
FINANCED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2008
Rights of intellectual property creators in institutions to benefit-sharing
10. (1) Intellectual property creators at an institution and their heirs are granted a
specific right to a portion of the revenues that accrue to the institution from their
intellectual property in terms of this Act until such right expires.
(2) Intellectual property creators at an institution and their heirs are entitled to the
following benefit-sharing:
(a) at least 20 per cent of the revenues accruing to the institution from such
intellectual property for the first one million rand of revenues, or such higher
amount as the Minister may prescribe; and
(b) thereafter, at least 30 per cent of the nett revenues accruing to the institution
from such intellectual property.
(3) The benefits contemplated in subsection (2) must be shared in equal proportions
between the qualifying intellectual property creators or their heirs unless otherwise
agreed between those creators and the recipient or determined in accordance with
institutional policies.
(4) The benefits to intellectual property creators and their heirs contemplated in
subsection (2)(a) must be a first call on the applicable revenue ahead of any institutional
distribution.
(5) The recipient may distribute the balance of the revenues generated by intellectual
property as it deems fit, but must apportion part of it for funding, among other things—
(a) more research and development;
(b) the operations of the office of technology transfer; and
(c) statutory protection of intellectual property.
(6) (a) This section prevails over a provision of a law mentioned in the second column
of Schedule 1 existing at the commencement of this Act to the extent that it is
inconsistent with such a provision.
(b) Despite paragraph (a), any arrangement relating to benefit-sharing that existed at
the commencement of this Act by virtue of a provision contemplated in that paragraph
continues in terms of that provision as if this section had not been enacted.
Conditions for intellectual property transactions
11. (1) The recipient determines the nature and conditions of intellectual property
transactions relating to any intellectual property held by it, but must take into account
the following:
(a) Preference must be given to non-exclusive licensing;
(b) preference must be given to BBBEE entities and small enterprises;
(c) preference must be given to parties that seek to use the intellectual property in
ways that provide optimal benefits to the economy and quality of life of the
people of the Republic;
(d) exclusive licence holders must undertake, where feasible, to manufacture,
process and otherwise commercialise within the Republic;
(e) each intellectual property transaction must provide the State with an
irrevocable and royalty-free licence authorising the State to use or have the
intellectual property used throughout the world for the health, security and
emergency needs of the Republic;
(f) if a holder of an exclusive licence is unable to continue with the
commercialisation of the intellectual property within the Republic during the
duration of the licence and the recipient wishes to retain the exclusive licence,
the recipient must furnish NIPMO with full reasons for retaining exclusivity;
(g) a recipient must supply the reasons contemplated in paragraph (f) within 30
days of it becoming aware that the holder of the licence is unable to continue
commercialising the intellectual property, or such extended time as may be
agreed upon with NIPMO; and
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