US space agency NASA is offering startups a license to 15 categories of patented NASA technologies for free.
The move follows Google's offer earlier this year of 'free' patents to select startups - and it could be just as valuable given the 1,200 patented technologies available for license under NASA's new Technology Transfer Program.
The LOT Network aims to reduce the risk of patents falling in the hands of a 'patent assertion entity' (PAE) by ensuring that if one member sells a patent to a PAE, all other LOT members automatically gain a license to that patent. The same happens if a LOT member is acquired by a PAE or becomes a PAE itself.
For NASA's patents, the agency said it and others have already vetted the technology available to startups for technical and commercial viability. Startups may also gain access to NASA's technical personal and facilities.