Can authors make money for software they write for INL? Yes, INL has a royalty sharing program for software authors. Authors on a software project, or inventors on an INL patent, receive up to 30 percent of the income from intellectual property that is licensed in accordance with LWP-22231. Can authors incorporate anti-piracy mechanisms in our software? Yes, but in most situations, incorporating appropriate licensing terms and pursuing legal action against infringers is sufficient. Researchers can add anti-piracy mechanisms if they have sufficient funding to do so, but TD does not add them in most licensing situations. What if someone doesn’t want to be named as an author of their software? In an attempt to be supportive of INL employees’ reputation and careers, TD generally tries to publicize the names of INL software authors. If an author wishes to remain anonymous, then the name can be withheld where it appears in the software release. This will not interfere with any royalty sharing, as there will still be an internal record of authorship. What if an author wants to start a company with the software they wrote? Starting a company based on software written at INL is commonly referred to as spinning out. The process includes licensing INL-owned IP to: 1) an laboratory employee, 2) a former laboratory employee who left INL with the intention of commercializing the technology, or 3) a new entity that is owned by, partially owned by, or employs an laboratory employee, or laboratory employee who left INL with the intention of commercializing the technology. For more information on spinning out software, please read INL’s guide, GDE-66122210 Guide for Employees Considering an INL Technology Start-up. Additional Inventor Rewards, S&T Fund, Innovation Development Fund Inventor(s) and/or Authors(s) 70% 30% 6