Frequently Asked Questions: Licensing
Q: Why do we need a license from RCT?
A: Research Corporation Technologies is the owner of the Pichia Protein Expression System. We allow companies short-term use of these kits to evaluate the capabilities of the Pichia system in expressing proteins of specific interest to their business plans. The goal of this evaluation is to provide data toward a decision to license the system.
Q: We are thinking of working with the Pichia system. How much does a license cost?
A: License classes and fees are listed below:
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Research Only (Valid for 5 years) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| License Issue Fee | $75,000 | $40,000 | $20,000 | $50,000 |
| Annual Minimum Royalty | $30,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 | NA |
| Royalty Rate (initial two products) | 3% | 4% | 5% | NA |
| Royalty Rate | 3% | 3% | 3% | NA |
Commercial licenses available through RCT have license terms as described above. If a company wishes to continue working with the Pichia system for research purposes only after the evaluation period, a research license is available with a one-time, up-front payment of $50,000. At the end of five years, a renewal research license is available, or the company can sign a commercial license.
Q: RCT has no patents in my country. Do we still need a license from RCT and why?
A: The Pichia system is composed of both patent materials and proprietary know-how materials. All these are owned and controlled by RCT. Therefore, any use of the Pichia system requires a license from RCT.
Q: But we never purchased anything from RCT . . . ?
A: To make this efficient protein production system more accessible to the commercial biotechnology industry we granted Invitrogen Corporation an exclusive license to produce and sell kits for evaluation purposes only. Under the agreement that accompanies each Pichia kit, any commercial or research use of the system is not allowed without a license after the evaluation period.
Q: We worked with the Pichia system in the past. Can we purchase the materials again?
A: Not without a license in place from RCT. Each commercial entity is allowed one one-year evaluation period. At the end of this period, your company would need to either take a commercial or research license to continue working with the Pichia system or destroy all materials.
Q: We want to work with a third-party contractor during our evaluation period. Is that allowed?
A: No. Invitrogen Corporation has the exclusive right to work with non-licensees of the Pichia system to do contract work. If, however, your company has a license to the Pichia system, they are free to work with any third party, under certain guidelines from RCT.
Q: Do academic institutions require a license agreement from RCT?
A: As long as an academic uses the Pichia system in their laboratory for non-commercial use, there is no licensing requirement.
Q: Can an academic transfer the Pichia system or materials to another site?
A: No transfer of Pichia materials is allowed to any other site, outside your laboratory, without prior written permission from RCT.
Q: I tried to purchase Pichia materials from Invitrogen. I was referred to RCT for further discussions. Why am I not able to purchase the Pichia materials?
A: Someone else in your company has previously worked with the Pichia system. Each commercial entity is allowed only one evaluation period. At this point, a license agreement would need to be in place in order for your company to work with the Pichia system again.
