Bayh-Dole Bulletin: Edition 1

Welcome to the Bayh-Dole Bulletin, a monthly newsletter from the Bayh-Dole Coalition. The Bayh-Dole Coalition is a diverse group of innovation-oriented organizations and individuals committed to celebrating and protecting the Bayh-Dole Act, as well as informing policymakers and the public of its many benefits.

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About the Bayh-Dole Coalition

A Word From Our Executive Director

This month, we pushed back on ill-considered proposals to amend Bayh-Dole’s domestic manufacturing preference that would have made it harder to find licensees, in addition to leading the fight against the pending march-in framework. Because of your continued help and support, we’re making a real impact in these critical debates, but the fight’s not over yet. We’ll soon be announcing some exciting new projects to help spread the word on the critical role Bayh-Dole plays in securing our well-being and prosperity.

Thanks for being a part of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. – Joe

May Coalition Highlights

• Letter: To Senate Judiciary Committee RE: hearing on “Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market” (5/20)
• Article: IPWatchdog, “Industry Tells USPTO Biden March-In Proposal Undermines Inquiry to Improve IP Commercialization” (5/16)
• Letter: To Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee RE: “Invent Here, Make Here Act of 2023” (5/13)
• Op-ed: Brooke Beier (Purdue Innovates), The Times of Northwest Indiana, “Biden administration plan would gut Indiana’s innovation economy” (5/12)
• Article: Bloomberg Law, “Cancer Drug Price-Cutting Pitch Mulled by HHS as Industry Waits” (5/10)
• Article: Tech Transfer Central, “Campaign to Protect Bayh-Dole Act launches, gains support from top universities” (5/8)
• Regulatory Comment: USPTO RFI on “Unlocking the Full Potential of Intellectual Property by Translating More Innovation to the Marketplace” (5/6)

Member Corner

• New Coalition Members: The Association of American Universities (AAU): The Association of American Universities is an organization composed of 71 of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s member universities help transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
• Member Events:
  • On May 31, the Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund hosted a webinar on the Biden administration’s draft framework for march-in rights: “BIDEN’S RADICAL CHANGE in the Bayh-Dole Act March-in Basis”
    • Bayh-Dole Coalition Executive Director Joseph P. Allen was a featured panelist.
  • On May 23, the Eagle Forum hosted a panel discussion on current issues in innovation policy: “Fork in the Road or Collision Course: Innovation Vs. Government Constraint”
    • Featured speakers include Bayh-Dole Coalition Board Chair Brian O’Shaughnessy and Advisory Council Member Scott Kieff.

Member Spotlight

Our May member spotlight is The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA)! TECNA is a federation of more than 60 highly collaborative technology councils and trade associations in the United States and Canada. The Bayh-Dole Coalition was lucky to have had their CEO, Jennifer G. Young, on our April 2024 webinar, “American Innovation in Peril: Misuse of the Bayh-Dole Act and Section 1498 Could Be a Knockout Punch.”

“The majority of TECNA’s members are small to medium-sized businesses, many of which have staked their future on a single invention. Protecting their intellectual property rights is paramount. The Bayh-Dole Act has been a cornerstone in fostering innovation and ensuring that these businesses can thrive. Efforts to undermine this critical legislation would have severe repercussions, jeopardizing the stability and growth of our innovation ecosystem. Our members expressed significant concern about the proposed framework for deciding and exercising march-in rights and other efforts to amend the Bayh-Dole Act, prompting us to join the Bayh-Dole Coalition to safeguard their interests and the broader technology community.” – Jennifer G. Young