Welcome back to MicroLearning Mondays, our biweekly series of bite-sized research administration trainings brought to you by the Department of Contracts and Grants.
This week’s topic: Navigating USC’s 2026 Intellectual Property Policy
Why It Matters: Intellectual property questions arise at every stage of research, scholarship, and innovation, from publications and software development to sponsored research agreements and AI assisted work. Understanding USC’s 2026 Intellectual Property Policy helps you determine who owns what, when Significant Use of University resources triggers institutional ownership, how royalty sharing works, and when consultation with USC Stevens is required. Clear knowledge of these principles protects creators, ensures compliance with sponsor and legal obligations, and supports responsible commercialization while preserving academic freedom.
In This Video, You’ll Learn:
- What qualifies as intellectual property under USC’s 2026 IP Policy.
- How ownership is determined, including Significant versus Incidental Use.
- When creators retain ownership of Scholarly Works.
- How the 40/30/15/15 royalty sharing model works.
- When to consult USC Stevens, including for AI and software related questions.
👉 Watch Navigating USC’s 2026 Intellectual Property Policy
Questions or Feedback?
We’re here to help! For anything related to MicroLearning Mondays, please reach out to Noah Congelliere in the Department of Contracts and Grants.