BS 8538:2011 Specification for the provision of services relating to the commercialization of intellectual property rights

BS 8538 is the British Standard that sets out for the first time good practice and principals of ethical behaviour for organizations providing services to inventors.BS 8538 specifies the requirements for the provision of services to the originators of intellectual property with a view to their commercialization. It specifies principles for the ethical behaviour of the service provider relating to:

• Integrity and competence, Transparency regarding fees, costs and finances, Confidentiality and the disclosure of information, The declaration of interests and conflicts, Complaints handling.

It also specifies a process for service provision, covering:

• Initial engagement with the originator, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Evaluation of the originator’s idea, Commercial agreements for the provision of advice and/or services.