Are patents an effective way to share your inventions?
Yes.
鈥淢ost of the world believes in patents,鈥� says John DiMaio, manager of the Life Sciences Group in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). 鈥淟ast year an unprecedented 500,000 patent applications were filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.鈥� He cautions, however, that North American universities account for only two per cent of granted patents. 鈥淐ombined, North American universities were awarded approx颅imately the same number of patents as just one American corporation, such as IBM,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he distinction however resides in the breadth and depth of innovation emerging from academic centers鈥攁nd that translates into incentive for the private sector to adopt or invest in new forward-looking opportunities and new products.鈥�
Researchers aspire to serve the greater good. Ironically, the instinct to publish and disclose, while well-intentioned, may be counter颅productive. 鈥淭he most successful drugs鈥攖he ones originating from pioneering academic research that have found their way in clinical development pipelines or medical practice鈥攁chieved that status because of sound and responsible patent strategies,鈥� says DiMaio. 鈥淭he same applies for human diagnostics, processes and other innovations that benefit society on the whole.鈥�