Differences between non-proprietary and proprietary

Note: changes from previous User Agreements are italicized.

NONPROPRIETARY RESEARCH
  • Users are not charged for "machine time" or potential agreed upon collaborative effort of Argonne researchers; users may be charged for ancillary materials, supplies, and services obtained from the User Facility.
  • Users must intend to publish their research results in the open scientific literature. Research results are available to the public.
  • Users may retain title to their researchers' inventions, and Argonne retains title to its researchers' inventions; the Government retains a royalty-free license and some oversight of utilization efforts.
  • Access to the User Facility is based on a peer-reviewed proposal process.
  • User may access the User Facility with or without collaboration of Argonne researchers.
  • Users provide sufficient information to ensure that each planned experiment can be performed safely.
  • Argonne personnel provide appropriate safety training and oversight.
  • The experiment is not directed towards producing a specific commercial end result (e.g., marketable product).
PROPRIETARY RESEARCH
  • Users are charged for "machine time" and limited support services (non-collaborative) from Argonne personnel on a full cost recovery basis.
  • Users may keep their research results private.
  • Users may retain title to their inventions; Government rights are extremely limited.
  • Access to the User Facility is granted in an impartial manner; a peer-reviewed proposal system may or may not be used.
  • User may access the User Facility with or without limited support (non-collaborative) from Argonne personnel.
  • Users provide sufficient information to ensure that each planned experiment can be performed safely.
  • Argonne personnel provide appropriate safety training and oversight.
  • If the experiment is proprietary and collaborative with Argonne researchers, a Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) (or Work-For-Others (WFO)) would be appropriate instead of the User Agreement.

 

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