STATE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICIES
Industry-sponsored academic research is a fundamental component of Researchand Development (“R&D”) throughout the United States and the state of New York. Academic research leads to scientific advancement and improves society’s quality of life by generating innovations in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and consumer electronics, and by strengthening the economy through industry and job creation. This report discusses the role of state government in creating an atmosphere where University R&D can flourish and where the state can benefit from its investment in research. Research has been compiled to provide a potential resource for policy makers who are considering a comprehensive statewide intellectual property (“IP”) policy.
The first section of this report discusses the current environment of university IP commercialization. A review of federal IP policies and industry push-back on university R&D begins this section. Thereafter, information is provided concerning university technology transfer activities and factors from within and outside the University that affect local economic development. Data is provided showing total university IP expenditures, invention disclosures, filed patent applications, issued patents, start-up formations, license income, and finally, licenses and options executed.
Next, this report summarizes the findings, guiding principles, objectives and recommendations from a recent California report written for policy makers who are considering a comprehensive state IP policy. A review of current New York agencies’ IP policies follows, including SUNY, the Research Foundation, NYS College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, CUNY and the CUNY Research Foundation, NYSTAR, and NYSERDA. Finally, the report discusses current New York Assembly activity with regard to a comprehensive state IP policy.
The concluding sections of this report canvass the IP policies of all fifty states in the US, presenting their respective state policies, summaries of their university system IP policies and other relevant specialized funding agencies. Differences and commonalities are discussed. A comprehensive conclusion reviewing all of the aforementioned research with findings and intellectual property policy alternatives is not completed, but will be added to the final report.
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