Essential Medicines News

An advisory committee at the University of Washington has recommended that inventions developed at the university, including medicine, be licensed “to maximize the worldwide use and societal benefit” of the technology.

The Intellectual Property Management Advisory Committee is appointed by the university’s president. The committee was chaired by Larry Snyder, a professor of computer science; a majority of the members are faculty, according to the university’s handbook.

The committee’s resolution states, “(T)he goal of maximizing license revenue can sometimes come into conflict with the goal of maximizing the availability and broadest use of UW technology,” and recommends that the UW “affirm that its primary goal in technology transfer is to maximize the worldwide use and societal benefit of its research and technology.” …

[Snyder:] “It seems to me the key point here is that occasionally, social good and profit maximization may come into conflict, and in those instances where they do, the University has gone on record saying we prefer the social responsibility position to the profit maximization decision.”

The head of the school’s technology transfer office concurred with the sentiment of the resolution, noting the “there’s a heightened sensitivity now” about the issue.

The subject was brought to the committee by the school’s chapter of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines.

COMMENT: Unfortunately, I can’t find a copy of the full resolution, or any other information about the committee (such as a full list of members or minutes).

UPDATE: A copy of the resolution is behind the jump.

Whereas one mission of the University of Washington is to develop knowledge and disseminate the research of faculty, students and staff to the broader national and international community,

Whereas the University is obligated by the Bayh-Dole Act and other directives to pursue the commercialization of its intellectual property, knowing that in some cases

• Maximum societal use of technology is promoted by intellectual property protection and exclusive licensing agreements, and in others
• Maximum societal use of technology is promoted by placing work in the public domain or by broad non-exclusive licensing,

And whereas the goal of maximizing license revenue can sometimes come into conflict with the goal of maximizing the availability and broadest use of UW technology,

The IPMAC recommends that:

• the UW affirm that its primary goal in technology transfer is to maximize the worldwide use and societal benefit of its research and technology.

Recognizing the potential challenges to implementing this policy, IPMAC further recommends that in specific situations where conflicts between societal benefit and commercial interests arise, it is appropriate to appoint an ad hoc committee of knowledgeable faculty to examine the proposed agreement and make recommendations.

Finally, to aid in assessing the impact of this policy, IMPAC requests to be informed annually about licensing agreements and other IP decisions affected by this policy.