UBC Reports | Vol. 48 | No. 7 | May 2, 2002

Flintbox Sparks Wider Audience

A new path to access UBC technology.

By Brian Lin

It just got a lot easier to purchase and download Information Technology software created at UBC.

The UBC University-Industry Liaison Office has created Flintbox, a web-based application for marketing and licensing technology online. For the first time, you'll be able to search information technology applications, get details, purchase an end-user license and download the software in just a few minutes.

When software is not suitable for patent or exclusive license arrangements, the costs and arduous process of administering higher-volume lower-value licenses can deter academics who may otherwise have been wanting to build a business case or generate some revenue from their work.

With Flintbox, researchers can disclose their technology to the UILO and then have their software licensed and sold online within a few days. "The disclosure and due diligence process is much easier for copyrighted materials intended for Flintbox," says Project Manager Stephen Smith. "With Flintbox researchers get access to a much wider audience than through their personal web site. All the licensing issues and considerations have been taken care of for them, and through Flintbox they can get valuable feedback."

Flintbox is intended to fill the void between open source licensing and the more conventional bilateral license agreements that are undertaken by the UILO. "The real benefit to researchers isn't making $50 on a transaction, but the ability to efficiently do hundreds of transactions, garner feedback and find a larger audience and interest for their work."

"It's something we have never done before and frankly, no UILOs have done," says Smith. But they're quickly catching on. Westlink Innovation Network (see www.westlink.ca) and the Federal Partners In Technology Transfer have adopted the application as their portal for IT technology.

The UBC implementation of Flintbox is accessible at www.ubcsoftware.ca. Researchers who have technologies to post on Flintbox can contact kate.hall@uilo.ubc.ca or get more information at www.uilo.ubc.ca.