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Technology Transfer: From the Research Bench to Commercialization: Part 1: Intellectual Property Rights—Basics of Patents and Copyrights

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2017.01.003Get rights and content
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Summary

Progress in medicine hinges on the successful translation of basic science discoveries into new medical devices, diagnostics, and therapeutics. “Technology transfer” is the process by which new innovations flow from the basic research bench to commercial entities and then to public use. In academic institutions, intellectual property rights do not usually fall automatically to the individual inventor per se, but most often are the property of the institution. Technology transfer offices are tasked with seeing to it that such intellectual property rights are properly managed and commercialized. This 2-part series explores the technology transfer process from invention to commercialization. Part 1 reviews basic aspects of intellectual property rights, primarily patents and copyrights. Part 2 will discuss the ways in which inventions become commercialized through startup companies and licensing arrangements with industry players.

Key Words

copyright
intellectual property
patent
technology transfer

Abbreviations and Acronyms

AUTM
Association of University Technology Managers
FDA
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
IP
intellectual property
R&D
research and development
TC
technology center
TTO
technology transfer office
USPTO
United States Patent and Trademark Office

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Dr. Van Norman has received financial support from the American College of Cardiology. Mr. Eisenkot is technology manager, bioengineering, at CoMotion, the technology transfer entity at the University of Washington, Seattle Washington.

All authors attest they are in compliance with human studies committees and animal welfare regulations of the authors’ institutions and Food and Drug Administration guidelines, including patient consent where appropriate. For more information, visit the JACC: Basic to Translational Science author instructions page.

© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.