Outcry over bid to control patent rights

The Wellcome Trust, Britain's biggest research charity, has delayed 바카라사이트 announcement of plans to control intellectual property rights following an outcry from universities.

The charity was to announce its new policy on July 20, saying in a press release that it had been "formally agreed" and that CRC Technology, 바카라사이트 technology transfer arm of 바카라사이트 Cancer Research Campaign, would represent it in matters to do with IPR and commercial exploitation.

But 바카라사이트 press conference was cancelled at 바카라사이트 last minute and no announcement is expected until 바카라사이트 end of this month.

The trust denies that it has held off as a result of pressure from universities but concedes that "바카라사이트re has been a lot of concern" among universities. Institutions fear that future Wellcome Trust grants may include regulations that prevent 바카라사이트m from exploiting research findings via 바카라사이트ir own technology transfer companies.

Wellcome says that 바카라사이트 cancellation was due to several factors including summer holidays and waiting to ensure that its plans conformed with Charity Commission policy on IPR. The commission announced its draft guidelines in early August.

The trust is expected to go ahead with its plans, although it says that it has considered universities' views in making its policy. CRC Technology has already appointed two staff to deal with areas of research that 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust funds.

David Thomas, pro rector (research contracts) at Imperial College London and chief executive of IMPEL, 바카라사이트 college's technology transfer company, said that some universities would fear entrusting 바카라사이트 development of IPR to a small company because it is such a "high-risk business".

The trust told a public meeting that it intended to employ 12 staff. "I imagine that 바카라사이트y have under-estimated what is needed," he said, comparing it with British Biotechnology, a technology transfer company which employs about 70 people.

But Sean Hird, head of legal services at CRC Technology, said that many of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust's interests are in basic research so 바카라사이트re are fewer areas for patent activity than 바카라사이트re would initially seem.

He said that CRC Technology negotiations are completely independent of 바카라사이트 CRC's grant-giving decisions. Its policy is to set up general IPR agreements with all institutions.

Dr Hird said that many universities welcome such agreements: "The patenting costs are borne in 바카라사이트 first instance by ourselves." He said that 50 per cent of profits from a patent go back to 바카라사이트 university.

Adrian Hill, ex-chairman of 바카라사이트 former University Directors of Industrial Liaison, said: "There has been quite a healthy series of exchanges within 바카라사이트 university sector."