Worldwide, in the meantime, invention from a professor has been regards as obligation-free invention because the professor's invention was not inherent in his/her duty that was composed of research and lecture, that shows university can be regarded as...
Worldwide, in the meantime, invention from a professor has been regards as obligation-free invention because the professor's invention was not inherent in his/her duty that was composed of research and lecture, that shows university can be regarded as a ivory tower. Pro-patent policies from countries have changed the landscape of universities. From the polices, universities have been become institutions that interact with corporations, no more ivory towers. As a result, inventions, which come from university's fund, facility, equipment, and personnel, should be declared in the form from each university. And the university determines whether the inventions will belong to the university.
In several years, a research-oriented university has became to hold many patents, transferring and licensing the patents. TLO(Technology Licensing Organization) has become the most vigorous one in the university. Sometimes, these activities has become one of the most important factors in evaluating the university.
In this context, this study has been conducted on a professor's invention; whether the invention is regarded as job-related invention, who has the right to the invention, what is the compensation for the university's ownership, what is the role of TLO in this process. This is the summary of the study. First, while the patent from professor's usual research activities has been generally regarded as obligation-free invention, which means the professor has ownership of the invention, this study shows that the invention, which is regarded as job-related one, should belong to the industry-university cooperation, which is a university organization.
Second, our research shows, in some universities in Korea, the amount of money for the compensation reaches almost two times as ones in advanced countries. Hence, the ratio of the compensation need to be reviewed and adjusted with the level of the advanced countries.
Last, compared with advanced countries, our country highly needs experts for the proper role of TLO. Actively preparing for technology holding company is required to strengthen commercialization of university's technology.