Monthly Archives: August 2010

Are you feeling all right?

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

Here are some implications of US university IP policies and technology transfer office practices: 1) the value of university research is referred at each point of invention to commercial markets; 2) university IP claims serve to create value for the … Continue reading →

Posted in IP, Technology Transfer | Comments Off

Fragmentation

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

When a bunch of universities file patents on bits and pieces of an area of research, such as has happened in nanotechnology, who are the big winners? That is, there is a commons made of patent claim thicket. No one … Continue reading →

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Patent Fair Use, Commons, and Research Inventions

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

Madey v. Duke wasn’t a good thing for research. Essentially, it put an end to the idea of a research use exception to patent claims. Whatever the merits of the case, there is no question in my mind that it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bayh-Dole, Commons, IP, Technology Transfer | Comments Off

Here’s what I mean

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

Nick White over at the LinkedIn SpinOut group, which I like a lot, points to this story put out by the University of Edinburgh. The University claims 40 start ups in a year, raising £3m in start up financing. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Metrics, Technology Transfer | Comments Off

Thinking about software

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

I’ve spent a large part of the past 20 years working on university-originated software IP–in research, instruction, and administrative services. We’ve done open source, source available, venture-backed start ups, technology access programs, commons, publication agreements, distribution agreements, site licenses, waived … Continue reading →

Posted in IP, Projects, Technology Transfer | Comments Off

If it weren’t for bad luck

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

A bad IP policy is worse than nothing. The purpose of an IP policy is (1) to change in the defaults of law, (2) to provide clarity with regard to employment obligations, (3) to set out protocols to manage IP, … Continue reading →

Posted in IP, Technology Transfer, Uncategorized | Comments Off

…. And Zombies!

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

In perhaps the simplest form, one may ask what collateral damage university IP policies do to research, just as one might ask whether central plans for rebuilding a city have much to offer the areas to be rebuilt. In this, … Continue reading →

Posted in IP, Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer | Comments Off

Taking it to the Street

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

Jane Jacobs wrote one of the definitive critiques of central planning in her The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Fifty years on, the work still hits home. In DLGAC, Jacobs starts with the life of the street, arguing … Continue reading →

Posted in Commons, Social Science, Technology Transfer | Comments Off

Hmpf, vol. 2

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

I came by a report by The Science Coalition called “Sparking Economic Growth: Federal Funding + University Research = Innovation, Companies and Jobs“. Title says it all. The Science Coalition says it is “a non-profit, nonpartisan organization of 50 fo … Continue reading →

Posted in IP, Metrics, Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer | Comments Off

Early Stage Technology

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Gerry Barnett

What does “early stage” mean in “early stage technology”? Does it arise from DoD “Technology Readiness Levels“? Perhaps. With TRL treatment, we are deep into the Linear Model. The starting point is basic research, which has to be translated into … Continue reading →

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