Confidentiality & Master Terms

Cleanroom Fab operates as a strict "Work for Hire" foundry. We prioritize the security of your Intellectual Property (IP) through robust legal frameworks, secure data handling, and clear bifurcation of process ownership.

Mutual NDA (MNDA)

We execute a comprehensive Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement with all corporate and academic clients prior to receiving sensitive data (GDSII/DXF). Our standard MNDA includes:

  • Definition of Confidential Information: Includes mask designs, process flows, meeting notes, travelers, and simulation data.
  • Standard Term: 3-5 years for confidential information; perpetual protection for Trade Secrets.
  • Exclusions: Information already in the public domain or independently developed by Cleanroom Fab without access to client data.
  • No License Granted: Sharing information for fabrication purposes does not grant Cleanroom Fab any license to your patents or IP.
Standard Practice: Upon initial contact, we provide our standard MNDA template for your legal team's review. We also review client-provided MNDAs.

Intellectual Property Ownership

Foreground IP (Yours)

You retain 100% ownership of specific implementations developed for your unique product:

  • Your mask designs (GDSII/DXF).
  • Your specific device architecture and layout.
  • Custom integration flows unique to your product stack.
  • Metrology data derived from your specific wafers.

Background IP (Ours)

Cleanroom Fab retains ownership of standard fab operations and baseline recipes:

  • Standard unit process recipes (e.g., "Standard Bosch Etch").
  • Tool calibration data and characterization baselines.
  • General fab operational know-how and safety protocols.
  • Process modules developed independently of your project.

Data Security & Retention

  • Secure Transfer: We do not accept GDSII files via standard email. We utilize encrypted, password-protected cloud storage (AWS GovCloud or similar) for data ingress/egress.
  • Access Control: Client data is restricted to the specific engineering team assigned to the project ("Need to Know" basis). It is firewalled from our other internal product teams.
  • Data Retention: Unless otherwise requested, mask data and run sheets are retained for 2 years to facilitate re-ordering, after which they are securely purged.

Warranty & "Best Effort"

Due to the experimental nature of microfabrication research and prototyping, services are provided under the following terms:

  • Best Effort Basis: We strictly follow the agreed-upon process traveler. However, we cannot guarantee functional yield or device performance for prototype lots, as these depend on the inherent physics of the design.
  • Wafer Breakage/Loss: In the rare event of wafer breakage due to machine failure or operator error, our liability is strictly limited to waiving the processing fees for that specific step or re-processing the step on a new substrate provided by the client. We are not liable for the value of the substrate, upstream value-add, or consequential damages.
  • No Warranty: Services are provided "AS IS" without warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Patent Indemnification

By submitting a design for fabrication, the Customer represents that they hold the necessary rights to manufacture said design. The Customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Cleanroom Fab against any third-party claims alleging that the fabrication of the Customer's design infringes upon a patent, copyright, or trade secret.

Export Control (EAR / ITAR)

Cleanroom Fab is a US-based entity. Unless explicitly agreed upon in writing prior to data transfer, please do not submit ITAR-restricted data. All standard submissions are assumed to be EAR99 or otherwise not restricted for transfer to US persons.

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