b'PROTECTING INNOVATIONU.S. Seed Sector, Intellectual Property and Policy: The Three Amigos!NOT WITHSTANDING THEquote above, one of Contractual agreement policy: are your com-Merriam Websters definition of policy is a high- panys license agreements fully protecting your IP level overall plan embracing the general goals andincluding trademarks? Does it include 3rd party audit acceptable procedures especially of a governmentalrights? Does your company designate who can sign? or organizational body. How does this fit into the U.S.Are executed agreements stored and archived with the seed sector and intellectual property you may ask? ability to notify of future obligations?With the 2021 U.S. seed sector forecasted to be Enforcement policy: does your company have worth $20.8 billion by the USDA, when it comes toprivileged Standard Operating Procedures for your ELOY CORONA seed innovations and intellectual property protection,enforcement program?is the executivethe burden is on the innovation company to take all Post IPR policy: does your company have a post director of theprecautions in order ensure a fair return on investmentIP protection plan for innovations such as commercial Seed Innovation &to its shareholders. Whether private, public or evenwithdrawal? In the case of a trait with a regulatory pack-Protection Alliance. university Technology Transfer Offices, these effortsage, will your company follow the ACCORD as initiated range from R&D bench to innovation withdrawal asby the American Seed Trade Association and BIO?offered below:IP strategy policy: does your company have a formal management group represented by the dif-ferent parts of your organization? Breeding, trait development, technology licensing, legal, productHonesty is the best policywhen theres management, stewardship/quality assurance, account management and marketing?money in it!Employee onboarding policy: does your company Mark Twainutilize confidentiality agreements with new employees and train all employees on intellectual property? Does your company utilize exit interviews to ensure reinforce-ment of the signed confidentiality criteria? R&D security policy: does your company provideThese are just a few examples where company secure access and storage of company confidentialpolicies can be instrumental in an organizations ability data, know-how and trade secrets? to prove that a protected innovation exists and thatData protection policy: does your company utilizeownership is clear. SIPA, as a core mission, strives to secure data management procedures for emails, fileshelp its members look internally to ensure protection of and databases and train employees on how to recog- seed innovations. One key method is by providing SIPA nize and prevent data breaches? Has your companymembers with Best Management Practices checklists stop using unencrypted flash drives? to help guide a company through the innovation lifeIP filing integrity policy: does your company workcycle. This skeleton framework assists SIPA members closely with innovation scientists to prevent externalwith ensuring that many of the items needed to pro-disclosures of new innovations such as scientific maga- tect seed innovations are not forgotten.zines or conferences before IP filing? As you can see, policies can play an important roleField plot policy: does your company put in placein protecting the IP goose that laid the golden seed secure protocols for seed plots with non-protected andegg. Instead of thinking of policies as just another protected innovations such as experimental coding?administrative effort think of them as part of your com-Are these plots secure from prying eyes and hands?panys culture. Leading by example is a crucial step Prior to commercialization is your company in full con- to take when it comes to your companys innovation trol of all harvested material? culturehonestly!SW14/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2021'