If the purpose of university technology transfer is to maximize the benefits of public and private investment in research, those offices cannot rely exclusively on traditional licensing efforts.  Some technologies lend themselves to a more entrepreneurial approach, where the total…

The practice of university technology transfer in South Africa is almost identical to what occurs in the United States.  With respect to government sponsored research, the mandate in both countries is to make sure results are utilized for the maximum…

On October 3, 2012, the National Academies’ Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) will host a special webinar on the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. There is significant interest in public-private partnerships, engaging academic researchers in the direct business…

Updated manuals used by patent and trademark examiners at the USPTO are now available to the public through a searchable web portal. For anyone involved in the patent or trademark application process, this provides an opportunity to review the exact wording…

With the change from first-to-invent to first-to-file, interference proceedings have been eliminated, and replaced with derivation proceedings. The distinction may appear subtle at first, but it reflects an important philosophical shift.  The new proceeding continues to protect inventors, preventing anyone else from…

The proposed fee schedule is intended to reflect recovery of actual costs associated with the patent process, and actually reduces fees for most routine filing expenses. An open comment period will commence following publication in the Federal Register.  The previously…

A public roundatable will be hosted at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria on Spetember 6, from 1:30 to 4:30.  Participation is free and open to the public, and is also accessible through an internet simulcast. The session begins with a presentation on First-Inventor-to-File proposed…

The number of academic responses received for FY 2011 appears effectively the same as FY 2010.  The roster of institutions with highest reported revenue also appears effectively the same.  Northwestern retains its position due in no small part to particularly sucessful drug licensing, as do many of the…