Hot topics are issues in which AUTM and its members are actively engaged. Current hot topics include:
Last June, the United States Supreme Court granted Mayo’s petition for certiorari in Prometheus Laboratories Inc. v. Mayo Collaborative Services, a case that addresses patentability of some methods involving personalized medicine. Read Andrew Cohn’s blog for more information.
H.R. 1249, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, has been passed by both houses of Congress. President Obama is expected to sign the bill. Visit the patent reform page for more information.
Stanford v. Roche is a case that sparked great interest for U.S. universities. Read more.
AUTM has undertaken the task of recognizing the various interests of stakeholders in academic commercialization process, and has advanced the concept of quantifying the expectations each party vested in the process may reasonably hold by establishing the AUTM Guidelines for Balancing Stakeholders’ Interests. The guidelines seek to define and balance these varied and sometimes only partially aligned interests. Read more.
The AUTM Board voted unanimously to file an amicus brief in support of i4i. Learn more by reading "Review by the Supreme Court of the Standard for Patent Validity in Microsoft v. i4i: What Does It Mean for Patents Owned by AUTM Members?" by Eric W. Guttag
AUTM submitted its response to the Request for Information on the Commercialization of University Research issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Economic Council. As stated in the request, "transferring viable research discoveries to the marketplace that can pose the greatest challange to innovators and entrepreneurs." Read AUTM's response here.
Gene patents and licensing practices have recently come under scrutiny following the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) release of its Public Consultation Draft Report on Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests. For more on this issue visit the Gene Patents and Licensing Practices page.
AUTM keeps a watchful eye on certain public policy issues regardless of whether or not there is specific action to be taken at the present time. For more information, visit the on ongoing public policy issues page. Ongoing public policy issues include:
The Bayh-Dole Act
Global Health
In re Bilski
Sovereign Immunity
March-in Rights
To learn how you can become involved contact the Public Policy Committee. Share what's on your mind with the AUTM community by posting a blog.
AUTM educates and communicates with public officials - rather than lobbying according to the wishes of any segment of the overall AUTM membership - and seeks to keep members informed about issues and legislative activity so individuals may respond in a way appropriate to their particular circumstances. However, certain issues arise where the association is called to take a position. AUTM identifies when such action is appropriate by following certain guidelines for taking a formal position.
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