The Emergence and Standardization of University Technology Transfer Offices: A Case Study

Patent management is a complicated business and is expensive. It requires a high degree of legal competence, administrative astuteness, and promotional zeal--a combination of talent not always readily available in an educational institution. The patent search is a specialized technical job. The preparation and processing of patent applications is exacting work for legal counsel. The administration of patent rights demands careful attention to intricate details and constant watch for infringement. The exploitation and disposal of patents, through sale and licensing agreements, requires salesmanship of a high order. It is natural, therefore, that most educational institutions make every effort to avoid becoming directly involved in the intricate legal and commercial aspects of patent management.--- Archie Palmer (1947) Almost all research universities in the United States have technology licensing operations