Technology Transfer Improvements and Advancement Act

Citation: Technology Transfer Improvements and Advancement Act, Pub. L. No. 104-113.

Overview
The Act clarified existing policy with respect to the dispensation of intellectual property under a CRADA by amending the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980. Responding to criticism that ownership of patents is an obstacle to the quick development of CRADAs, this law guaranteed an industrial partner the option to select, at the minimum, an exclusive license for a field of use to the resulting invention. If the invention was made solely by the private party, then they could receive the patent. However, the government maintained a right to have the invention utilized for compelling public health, safety, or regulatory reasons and the ability to license the patent should the industrial partner fail to commercialize the invention.