Category Archives: Innovation

Drift as a city’s economic driver

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

Some years ago, Jane Jacobs published a series of books that take up the issue of how cities contribute to regional and national economies. In particular, Jacobs argued that a particular kind of city behavior was crucial for a regional … Continue reading →

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The laboratory and discovery

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

It’s a nice thought that faculty and students make their discoveries “in the lab” as a recent APLU infographic depicts. There certainly are discoveries made in laboratory work. But discoveries are also made out collecting samples, and in work shops, … Continue reading →

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The Special Case Keeps Giving

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

Here is the special case university research invention. I have expanded it to show the logic. A special case invention is one that cannot be used without “development” and the “development” involves substantial effort at private expense and the “development” … Continue reading →

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Key Concepts 1: Dual Monopoly

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

Dual Monopoly A dual monopoly approach to innovation management involves both a comprehensive institutional demand for ownership of inventive work and an institutional determination to convey monopolies in that work for private exploitation. The first monopoly is an institutional one. … Continue reading →

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The banal myth of the necessary institutional monopoly

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

Louis Rosenfeld wrote an insightful article in Clinical Chemistry on the discovery of insulin “Insulin: Discovery and Controversy.” Three collaborators in the research had a disagreement over inventive contributions to various portions of the work and to settle their disputes gave … Continue reading →

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There are no Bayh-Doles in Canada

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

In a recent hearing held by the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, made some valuable remarks, which he has published at his blog. Geist … Continue reading →

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The Bush Engine of Technology Innovation

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

Vannevar Bush argued that it was a proper role for the federal government to support scientific research. This proposition today is regarded as a truth that hardly needs justification. But in Science the Endless Frontier, Bush was not arguing for … Continue reading →

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Initial inventors, cumulative development, and the public covenant in federally supported inventions, 2

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

We are using Steven Anderman’s article “Overplaying the innovation card: The stronger intellectual property rights and competition law” to work through ideas about invention and follow-on development in the context of federal funding for university research and the effect of the Bayh-Dole … Continue reading →

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Government Interest Patent Activity 1976 to 2016, Part 4

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

In a portfolio model, 1 invention in 200 becoming a commercial product is acceptable, if the 1 is a big hit. In an agent model, 1 in 200 is unacceptable and borders on malpractice or fraud unless inventors willingly turn … Continue reading →

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Free Competition and Enterprise in Bayh-Dole

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Gerald Barnett

One reason that Bayh-Dole is so difficult to parse is that there are multiple levels at work. It’s easier to just say that Bayh-Dole gives universities ownership of inventions made with federal support, and they can do anything they want … Continue reading →

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