Universities have formed a company that looks a lot like a patent troll (eff.org)

Article summary

A consortium of 15 universities has formed a company to license and enforce their patents, particularly in the areas of autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things, and Big Data. This move has been criticized for resembling the tactics of patent trolls, which use low-quality patents to extract licensing fees from companies. The company's goal is to acquire payment for patents that have not been successfully licensed through traditional means. This approach may harm innovation and competition, especially for smaller companies that cannot absorb the costs of litigation or licensing fees.

Main themes

• patent trolling
• university funding
• innovation and competition
• higher education costs
• research funding models
• intellectual property law
• academic mission and values

What commenters say

• Universities should not be involved in patent trolling as it undermines their mission of sharing knowledge and promoting innovation.
• The patent system is flawed and allows for the exploitation of low-quality patents to extract money from companies.
• Universities need to find ways to generate revenue, and patent licensing can be a legitimate means of doing so.
• The formation of this company is a result of the Bayh-Dole Act, which encourages universities to patent and commercialize their research.
• The high costs of tuition and administrative overhead at universities are not justified by the revenue generated from patent licensing.
• The EU's research funding model is also flawed and prone to misuse, with some projects being used as a means to transfer money to professors and administrators.
• The wealth and endowments of top universities, such as Harvard and Yale, do not justify their involvement in patent trolling or their high tuition costs.
• The student debt crisis is exacerbated by the fact that universities are not using their endowments and revenue to support students and reduce costs.