Have you ever wondered why patent licensing matters? Maybe you’ve heard the words “tech transfer” and weren’t sure exactly what that means. We’ll define both terms below and explain why they are critical to American inventors.
If you follow our blog, you’ve seen posts about patent licensing like this one covering why universities matter. But what is patent licensing?
Although you may not have heard much talk about patent legislation in the first half of 2017, plenty has been happening behind the scenes. Citing the U.S. patent system’s drop from first to tenth place globally this year, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) have introduced new legislation that aims to right the wrongs that have weakened the patent system over the last decade.
Here’s how the STRONGER Patents Act will strengthen America:
When you think about patents today, you probably think of technology or medicine. But, there’s a whole segment of innovation in the United States that isn’t based on processors, microchips or biological breakthroughs. Enter Frances Prado, whose garment-based product, Hanging Secrets has been successful in part because she protected it with a patent. We interviewed Frances to learn more about her story. Here is an abbreviated transcript:
Save The Inventor: Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your history leading up to your idea for Hanging Secrets.
Across the web you’ll find lots of great articles highlighting Edison, Tesla, Latimer, Jobs, Lamarr and many more. We’re doing something a little different this month by highlighting three innovators you should know that have flown under the radar: one from the past, one from the present, and one that will undoubtedly be a big name in the future.
Having no success so far in pushing through further far-reaching legislation in Congress, proponents of weaker patent rights have been searching for new avenues to achieve their aims. One of the latest efforts, led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), is to try to convince the public that universities shouldn’t be allowed to license their patents to other non-practicing entities, businesses that license technology but don’t manufacture themselves.
That’s a dangerous position to hold and one that we need to dispel. Here’s why:
If you keep up with intellectual property and patent news, you’ve likely seen the words “35 USC 101” or “Section 101.” Set among a myriad of complex abbreviations, acronyms, and terms, you’d be forgiven for not fully understanding what 35 USC 101 is or why it matters to patent holders and inventors in the United States.
Let’s take a few moments to cover the basics of this term so you can be better informed about the patent system in 2017.
If it weren’t for inventors, life would be much more difficult and certainly a lot less interesting. Whether it’s a cell phone, can opener, or the assembly line your car was built on, we owe inventors a huge debt of gratitude.
One way to say “thank you” is by celebrating National Inventors’ Day.
Laurie Self knows patents. As an attorney working in intellectual property for almost 30 years, Self has gained a wealth of experience and a deep appreciation for the financial incentives that patents bring to both inventors and the U.S. economy.
She believes in the impact of the inventive spirit so much that she put her two children through the USPTO’s “Camp Invention”. You could say that intellectual property has become a lifestyle for her.
