Trademarks figure prominently in college and university brand formation efforts. Trademarks are intangible rights that allow institutions to define and protect aspects of their identities important to them as they engage in markets. This multiple-method study, grounded in legal and policy research, provides a first look at how institutions are…

Because of their special mission, colleges and universities have unique patent concerns that warrant detailed exploration, particularly regarding ownership of patent rights on inventions developed on campus under federal contracts and grants. Rights and concerns of the inventor, the university, and financial sponsors are outlined. (Author/LBH)

Legal questions involving conveyance of university-developed technology to the marketplace are becoming an increasing problem. This article discusses issues of intellectual property, including: university policies of ownership; faculty copyrights; university partnerships with the federal government; hidden costs of aggressive protection; and…

Inventions developed at 117 research universities produced $242-million in royalties in fiscal 1993, significantly higher than the previous year. Observers see a maturation of the technology transfer process, in which inventions take some years to arrive on the market. Containing legal costs is a persistent issue for the institutions. (MSE)

National security controls and restrictions on academic institutions and individuals are discussed, with focus on how the principles of first amendment rights (academic freedom in particular) must balance attempts on censorship of unclassified publications and academic presentations. Specific legislation and litigation are considered. (MSE)

Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) is challenging the rights of a biotechnology company to infringe on the university's patents on an invention; the company is challenging the patents' validity. The case is seen as representative of issues concerning technology transfer in which universities, government funding, and private industry interact. The…

As a result of actual and anticipated growth in the level of entrepreneurial activities within the University of Maryland System (UMS), and corresponding growth in licensing and royalty revenues, a threshold policy was recommended in the Joint Chairmen's Report of 1996. Such a policy would establish a maximum threshold beyond which a portion of…

This 68-paper collection represents a broad mix of telecommunications issues, problems, innovations, needs and resources, from a conference organized by the Pacific Telecommunications Council, an independent, voluntary-membership organization dedicated to the beneficial development and use of telecommunications in the broad Pacific area. Papers…

Although more institutions are looking closely at their practices and policies concerning technology transfer, campus patent officials fear many have not adopted adequate measures to guard against potential ethical, legal, and financial problems in bringing technology to the marketplace. Potential for faculty conflict of interest is seen as…

The 106 conference papers in this collection contain the thoughts and concerns of telecommunications carriers, suppliers, users, researchers, and government and professional groups. These papers were presented at a conference organized by the Pacific Telecommunications Council, an independent, voluntary-membership organization dedicated to the…

A discussion of legal aspects of college faculty efforts to profit from their research activities considers whether judicially acknowledged distinctions between faculty's academic and personal pursuits will apply in such cases of commercialization. Implications for increased regulation of core institutional and faculty activities are examined.…

Partnerships between businesses and higher education institutions can help meet the training and information-technology needs of businesses and simultaneously increase the expertise and technology base of the institutions. Challenges include obtaining venture capital, personnel, cultural differences, and legal issues. A Kent State University…

A survey of university-industry technology transfer practices in the Federal Republic of Germany revealed how many of the organizational, financial, and legal features of the German system of higher education and research promotion affect technology transfer. American research administrators would benefit from an understanding of these political…

This report, prepared by the Office of Technological Assessment (OTA) in response to a request from the House Committee on the Judiciary, examines the rapid and complex technological changes and trends in computer software technologies and their possible effects on the nation's intellectual property system. The three policy issues identified are:…

Trends in cooperation between higher education institutions and industry are outlined, including incentives to schools and industry, mutually perceived barriers to more and better partnerships, and barriers as perceived separately by institutions and industry. Five specific recommendations for improving the relationships are provided. (MSE)