When the UK electricity industry supports research projects into EMFs (either by offering data or financial support) there is always a contract created to guarantee the independence of the study. The contract is slightly different each time, tailored to the specific project, but a typical form would be as follows.
Research project [name of project]
The [electricity company concerned] has already offered to co-operate with the study [brief details of study] (“the Study”) which will continue until [insert end date]. The co-operation will take the form of [insert details].
This letter sets out the conditions under which this co-operation will take place. This agreement is made and shall be interpreted in accordance with English Law. Any amendments to the Agreement shall be mutually agreed in writing by both parties.
1 Any Data supplied by [insert company concerned] may be used for the purposes of the Study, but where such Data is marked or notified as confidential, shall not be used for any other purpose or disposed of or disclosed to any other person (save for the purposes of the Study) except with the prior written permission of the relevant company.
2 The University has the right to conduct the Study in whatever way it sees fit, including the right to publish any or all of the results of the Study in whatever way it sees fit. The University will use its best endeavours to ensure that the results of the Study are published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature regardless of what those results may be.
3 The results of the Study and any all intellectual property arising from the conduct of the Study shall be the property of the University. The University and those working on the Study shall have the irrevocable right to use such results and such intellectual property for academic and research purposes, and for the purpose of clinical patient care.
4 The University is not required to seek the comments of [company concerned] on any proposed publications. You may invite [company concerned] to comment on any proposed publications, but there is no obligation to act on or to incorporate any comments made by [company concerned].
5 The University will allow [company concerned] to see any of its publications or external presentation of the results arising out of the Study at least one calendar month before it is submitted or released to a scientific journal, the media or to the public. [Company concerned] will limit the circulation of any such material to such individuals in [company concerned] as are necessary to prepare a response to the contents. Those individuals will preserve the confidentiality of the material until it is published by the University.
6 [Company concerned] will exercise all reasonable care and diligence in providing Data, results of calculations and advice, but will not be liable for the consequences of any errors or mistakes. The University will exercise its reasonable care and diligence in the use made of any Data, results of calculations and advice provided by [company concerned], but will not be liable for the consequences of any errors or mistakes.
7 [Company concerned] accepts that The University does not warrant that the Study will produce any particular result. [Company concerned] accepts that The University shall not be under any liability for any use which may be made of the results of the Study.
8 [Company concerned] intend that the co-operation shall continue until the end of the Study. Either party shall be entitled to terminate the co-operation after 90 days written notification to the other Party for any breach of these terms and conditions if the breach is not remedied within the ninety-day notice period.
Please acknowledge within fourteen days receipt of this letter, confirming your acceptance of the conditions set out herein by signature of the copy enclosed.
