This dissertation used a historical research method to examine the rise of the centuries-long complex construct of intellectual property ownership through the lenses of American institutions of higher learning and the American legal system, the latter of which attributing its involvement in intellectual property rights once the principle of…

This article considers the effects of the Leahy--Smith America Invents Act, signed into law in September 2011, on the US patent system and its potential negative implications for US patent activities and patent culture. (Contains 2 notes.)

Intellectual property has become a highly coveted asset that can potentially reap a financial windfall for the owner who exploits its utility. Higher education has focused on the discovery of new knowledge, which can translate into intellectual property, but legislation, higher education policy, and/or contractual engagement may dictate ownership…

When Blackboard unveiled its U.S. patent for 44 features of learning management systems and then filed a patent infringement suit against Design2Learn, the response of the educational technology community was negative and swift. Stephen Downes discusses why many educators oppose Blackboard's proprietary claims to technologies long considered in…

Until recently, it was unclear under US case law whether university patent policies were sufficient to obligate university personnel to assign their inventions to the university without a signed invention-assignment agreement. This paper examines the question through recent case law. These cases indicate a trend in support of university claims…

U.S. patent laws have undergone many changes in recent years, both through Congress and the courts. This article summarizes recent developments relating to judicial decisions, legislative initiatives, and patent office policy, and provides some practical advice relating to administration of intellectual property. As illustrated by the latest…