The Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic ("L&E Clinic") provides a number of services to faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin free of charge. One of the privileges of working at the UW is that faculty and staff are permitted to engage in "Outside Activities". These Outside Activities often include consulting in a particular area of expertise, sitting on advisory boards, conducting seminars and classes, and even founding companies.
Outside Activities are permitted by the University provided certain disclosures are made and procedures are followed to ensure that University resources are not being used and that University rights are not being given away. Determining these questions involves looking at the contract proposed to the faculty or staff and evaluating the arrangement. In addition to questions over University resources and rights (often contained in Intellectual Property clauses of the contract) a whole host of other, more personal, rights might be at issue: for example, does the faculty member need to disclose financial or other conflicts of interest, can the faculty member compete with the company and whether there might be ongoing confidentiality requirements that might prohibit the faculty member from publishing in this area.
The University and UW Legal cannot answer these questions. Although UW resources might be at issue, the UW is not a party to the contract and cannot provide legal advice to the faculty or staff. UW Legal has published some guidance for researchers entering into outside consulting agreement. The Secretary of the Faculty (UW-Madison) has published Policies and Procedures that you can read, as well.
The L&E Clinic can review your contract and help you to make sure that you comply with the policies and procedures required for your work at the UW.
Simply fill out the Application for Services found by clicking here and selecting "Faculty/Staff" in the "Nature of Business" drop-down selection. The L&E Clinic will contact you about reviewing your Outside Activities contract.
