GREAT BEND TRIBUNE More
By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Bob Dole’s most influential law turns 40
The highly successful bipartisan Patent and Trademark Amendments Act crafted in 1980 by Senators Bob Dole (R-KS) and Birch Bayh (D-IN) turns 40 this Saturday. The Bayh-Dole Act led to greater use of federally funded research and design – and it may be put to a new use in treating COVID-19 patients.
The intent of Bayh-Dole was to encourage innovation and economic development through federal funding, and the granting of patents and licenses related to intellectual property (IP). In specific circumstances, the U.S. government has the right to “march in” and either grant licenses, or require the patent holder/licensee to grant licenses, to third parties under federally funded patents.