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Certified Licensing ProfessionalTM (CLP) Board of Governors to Offer Limited “Grandfathering” Period

Introduced in 2007, the CLP certification is a professional credentialing program intended to recognize those who have demonstrated experience, proficiency, knowledge and exposure to licensing, technology transfer, or commercialization of intellectual property through involvement in patenting, marketing, valuation, IP law, negotiation, and intellectual asset management.   Nearly 800 individuals have earned the CLP certification.    

In 2007, a brief, eight-week grandfather period was offered to licensing professionals. Grandfathering is the process by which individuals are granted certification based on stringent criteria related to experience instead of by examination.  Many experienced licensing professionals have expressed a concern that the initial grandfathering period was not adequately publicized to reach the global audience interested in earning and using the CLP credential.  To address this concern and officially launch the program to the international community of licensing professionals, the CLP Board of Governors will provide an additional, one-time grandfathering period between October 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. 

The taskforce developing the new requirements for the grandfathering opportunity consists of a diverse team of 10 experienced leaders in the field, including two representatives from Europe and one from Australia.  The taskforce defined the new eligibility requirements for a wider, international audience of experienced or “seasoned” professionals who are in leadership and mentoring positions. 

Dwight Olson, CLP chairman of the Board of Governors,  says “the new grandfathering period and standards are intended to build an international group of CLP certified leaders to provide professional leadership and help mentor colleagues.. “

The eligibility requirements include:

(1)   a university or college four-year degree;

(2)   at least 10 years of experience, within the last 12 years, in licensing, technology transfer, or technology commercialization;  and

(3)   compliance with four or more of the following six eligibility statements:

  • ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT 1 – I hold/held a senior licensing, technology transfer, or technology commercialization position in an organization with annual licensing revenues of $10,000,000 USD or greater.  In order to confirm that you meet this eligibility statement, please submit documentation that describes how your organization satisfies the $10,000,000 or greater requirement.
  • ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT 2 – I was primarily responsible for the negotiation of ten or more licensing, technology transfer, or technology commercialization agreements.  In order to confirm that you meet this eligibility statement, please submit documentation that describes the ten licensing agreements.
  • ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT 3 – I was requested to serve as an expert or arbiter on licensing/technology transfer/technology commercialization and provide a written opinion.  In order to confirm that you meet this eligibility statement, please submit documentation that describes the expert witness/arbiter project.  At a minimum, the case should be identified and your role as a licensing specialist should be described.
  • ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT 4 – In the past five years I have been a speaker at a licensing/technology transfer/intellectual property conference, and/or written articles/books, on licensing, at least four times.  In order to confirm that you meet this eligibility statement, please submit documentation that describes the speaker/author activities.  At a minimum, please provide the title of the presentation, article, or book as well as the presentation details (conference and date, journal and date, publisher and date).
  • ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT 5 – I have been responsible for developing a statement of IP valuation.  In order to confirm that you meet this eligibility statement, please submit documentation that describes the scope and content of the IP valuation project, including your role in the project.
  • ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT 6 – I have been the drafter of twenty or more executed license, technology transfer, or technology commercialization agreements.  In order to confirm that you meet this eligibility statement, please submit documentation that describes the twenty executed license agreements and your role in the project.

The application fee is $1195.00 USD.

The online application will be available beginning on October 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.  All applications must be submitted by the deadline. 

Please visit the CLP Web site at www.licensingcertification.org for more information or contact Cynthia Allen, CLP Certification Manager, at callen@licensingcertification.org.