Software Licensing and Copyrights

Software Licensing

OTC facilitates the licensing and distribution of University-developed software and other digital media. Almost every academic department has developed proprietary software of varying degrees of commercial value. OTC's Available Technologies database maintains a current list of those applications with direct commercial opportunities.

OTC distributes software through several forms of license agreements:

GNU General Public License (GPL)
The GNU General Public License and the GNU Library General Public License, each a product of the Free Software Foundation, Inc., offer a convenient and widely accepted method of public distribution that ensures the public access to and use of software intended for their benefit. The GNU Licenses include a form of copyright notice, a restricted right to further disseminate, disclaimer of warranties, and straightforward, plain English explanations of the user's rights and responsibilities under the license agreement. Distribution under the GNU Licenses will assure the widest possible public benefit with very little cost to the University.
Hybrid - Open Source to Commercial License
The hybrid license is very attractive in that it allows the software to enjoy the freedom and rewards of open source for internal use by licensees. Compensation terms apply upon commercialization, thereby returning appropriate consideration to the University.
Exclusive Source Code License
Applications most appropriately commercialized by a single partner transfer through an exclusive license agreement. OTC frequently seeks patent protection for such applications.
Non-Exclusive, Executable Code License
OTC licenses fully developed applications with immediate, quantifiable commercial value to multiple partners within an industry.

Copyrights

OTC manages use of all University of Texas at Austin owned copyrights with non-UT Austin individuals or organizations.

To obtain permission for use of copyrighted material owned by The University of Texas at Austin, please fill out either the UT copyright license agreement or the UT non-exclusive copyright permission form and return it to OTC.