Managing University Intellectual Property in the Public Interest

National Research Council; Policy And Global Affairs; Committee On Science, Technology, And Law; Board On Science, Technology, And Economic Policy; Committee On Management Of University Intellectual Property: Lessons From A Generation Of Experience, Research, And Dialogue

ISBN 10: 0309161118 / ISBN 13: 9780309161114

Published by National Academies Press, 2011

About this Item

Seller Inventory # EBBV.0309161118.N

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Managing University Intellectual Property in the Public Interest
• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0309161118
• ISBN 13: 9780309161114
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Thirty years ago federal policy underwent a major change through the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which fostered greater uniformity in the way research agencies treat inventions arising from the work they sponsor. Before the Act, if government agencies funded university research, the funding agency retained ownership of the knowledge and technologies that resulted. However, very little federally funded research was actually commercialized. As a result of the Act's passage, patenting and licensing activity from such research has accelerated.

Although the system created by the Act has remained stable, it has generated debate about whether it might impede other forms of knowledge transfer. Concerns have also arisen that universities might prioritize commercialization at the expense of their traditional mission to pursue fundamental knowledge―for example, by steering research away from curiosity-driven topics toward applications that could yield financial returns.

To address these concerns, the National Research Council convened a committee of experts from universities, industry, foundations, and similar organizations, as well as scholars of the subject, to review experience and evidence of the technology transfer system's effects and to recommend improvements. The present volume summarizes the committee's principal findings and recommendations.