Commerce Sec. Wants Half of University Patent Money

"The scientists get the patents, the universities get the patents and the funder of $50 billion, the U.S. government, you know what we get? Zero,"

"I think if we fund it and they invent a patent, the United States of America taxpayer should get half the benefit,"

"if we are paying for the research, if we're paying for the lab, if it's our money, the American taxpayer's money."

"If enacted, the proposal would stifle the U.S. innovation pipeline, with the American people, not universities, being the ultimate losers."

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick proposed that the federal government receive half the dollars generated from patents developed with federal funding, arguing taxpayers fund research and receive none. Lutnick noted scientists and universities obtain patents while the U.S. government gets zero despite funding billions. The Bayh-Dole Act generally gives universities the right to own patents developed with federal support. The Commerce Department did not provide comment on how the administration could legally alter that law. Association of American Universities counsel Kate Hudson warned the proposal would harm university-industry partnerships and stifle the U.S. innovation pipeline.

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