The purpose of the MTA is to protect the intellectual and other property rights of the provider while permitting research with the material to proceed. There are three forms of material transfer that commonly arise at academic institutions, each calling for different terms and conditions. No signature from a UC official is necessary in this case. MTA's from industry often contain restrictive language in the areas of publication, patent rights, and licensing. Often, companies want the right to block or edit our right to publish, which contradicts the concept of academic freedom.
Companies often request samples of research material.
If the material is currently patented by UCLA and not yet licensed to industry, a company may obtain a sample of the material under the following agreement, which must be signed by an authorized official within the Office of Sponsored Research. This agreement also allows a company to evaluate their interest in licensing the technology related to the material. In these instances, the researcher may need to fill out an invention disclosure form on the subject material. Frequently, investigators are required to co-sign the MTA as evidence that they have read it and will comply with its terms. However, since the MTA is a contract, the official signature can only come from those at UCLA who are charged with the task of reviewing them, and who have been delegated authority to bind the Regents of the University of California contractually.