Author Archives: Gerald Barnett

Thinking back to think ahead

I have added a new page to the blog, Cottrell on Patents.  There you can find Cottrell’s 1912 essay explaining why he started Research Corporation.  Also, I’ve added a link to a historical account of Cottrell’s work and Research Corporation. … Continue reading

Posted in History, Policy, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on Thinking back to think ahead

Blasts from the Past

Here is the University of Arizona invention policy statement from 1939.  Simple voluntary approach with a breakout for expressly set out positions, with inventors owing 10% of their proceeds to the University if they are not using Research Corporation and … Continue reading

Posted in Bayh-Dole, History, Policy, Stanford v Roche, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on Blasts from the Past

No-troll covenants

Twitter has announced an Innovator’s Patent Agreement (thanks for the link, Steve) that gives inventors some rights that run with any assignment of patents on their inventions.   Inventors retain a right license with right to sublicense in the event that … Continue reading

Posted in History, IP, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on No-troll covenants

We are going to have the discussion anyway

Karen White over at Almost White Pages has good thoughts about the challenges of providing university inventors with choices about who manages their inventions.  It’s clear this is not an easy issue, and I agree with Karen that it is … Continue reading

Posted in Bayh-Dole, Policy, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on We are going to have the discussion anyway

You already do

In the Bayh-Allen view of things, university technology transfer offices do not have the capacity or resources to handle inventions other than those made by their own faculty.  This is at the heart of “this compulsory assignment business is really … Continue reading

Posted in Policy, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on You already do

Research patent price setting as pro-innovation

Here is an insightful piece of work on new approaches to patent licensing for universities. Jonathan Hillel, “Legal Trubulence after Leegin: New Possibilities for Patent Licensing at Research Institutions.” Hillel looks at anti-trust issues related to price setting and argues … Continue reading

Posted in Technology Transfer | Comments Off on Research patent price setting as pro-innovation

Non-technology transfer exploitation of university patents

Jon Brodkin at Ars Technica reports on a patent dispute between Yahoo and Facebook.  Yahoo filed a patent infringement case against Facebook in March, and now Facebook has acquired 10 patents from patent accumulators–otherwise called trolls or non-operating entities–to assert … Continue reading

Posted in IP, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on Non-technology transfer exploitation of university patents

What rot hath Bayh-Dole wrought?

What hath Bayh-Dole wrought? Or, more pointedly, what have university invention administrators done with the opportunity presented by Bayh-Dole? Over the past 30 years, university administrators have successfully: Changed a clustered federal system of patent accumulation for open release into … Continue reading

Posted in Bayh-Dole, Policy | Tagged , | Comments Off on What rot hath Bayh-Dole wrought?

What is and what should never be

I have a special regard for the Bayh-Dole Act from spending so much time working with it. I am impressed with the way that it balances uniform agency policy regarding federally supported inventions with the diversity of practices potentially available … Continue reading

Posted in Bayh-Dole, Stanford v Roche, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on What is and what should never be

A map of the Atlantic

The Atlantic has published yet another retrenchment piece by Allen and Bayh.  At least there is no question where they stand on the matter:  comprehensive, compulsory stripping of faculty rights to inventions is the way to prosperity and should be … Continue reading

Posted in Bayh-Dole, Policy, Technology Transfer | Comments Off on A map of the Atlantic