The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 was an amendment to existing patent law with sponsors Senator Birch Bayh (Indiana – D) (pronounced “Bye”) and Senator Robert Dole (Kansas – R) to facilitate the commercialization of technology developed with government support. The Bayh-Dole Act forged a new partnership between the nation’s universities, non-profit research laboratories and private companies to hold patents on federally funded research. It also prevented international researchers from taking American federally funded inventions to other countries and then selling them back to America.
This has spawned the biotechnology industry and revitalized American technological leadership in the world. Before 1980, the federal government retained title to all university and non-profit research inventions if any federal funding was involved, so now the public can benefit from medicinal breakthroughs and vaccines quicker as research can move faster and freely. In 1994, it had created markets of $9-13 billion in product sales, 50k-100k new jobs and tax revenues of over $2 billion.
A very short response letter to Bob Dole from Vice President George H.W. Bush. Dole had clearly written to the Vice President previously, regarding how Federal Acquisition Regulation might affect his proposed patent legislation.
United States General Accounting Office. Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce House of Representatives. Patent Policy. Department of Commerce Involvement in Department of Energy Activities.
Review of the Bayh-Dole Act Testimony by Senator Dole to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks. Dole discusses the successes of the Bayh-Dole Act, 14 years after it was signed.
Association of American Universities Steering Committee Proposal. Discusses the general research agreement situation between universities and industry and in response to recent government actions, calls for reviews, reports, recommendations going forward.
A bill to amend title 35 of the United States Code; to establish a uniform Federal patent procedure for small businesses and nonprofit organizations; to create a consistent policy and procedure concerning patentability of inventions made with Federal assistance; and for other related purposes.
Letter from Vice President George Bush to Senator Bob Dole on The Uniform Patent Procedures Act A very short response letter to Bob Dole from Vice President George H.W. Bush. Dole had clearly written to the Vice President previously, regarding how Federal Acquisition Regulation might affect his proposed patent legislation.
Overview and Impact of the Bayh-Dole Act A summary from 1996 looking back at the positive impact the Bayh-Dole Act had on jobs and universities since its implementation in 1980.
Dear Senator Letter from Committee on the Judiciary Members Regarding Patent Law includes a draft of the Process Patent Amendment of 1980
Correspondence Between Bob Dole and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Includes copy of Dole's original letter sent April 1986 in support of timely processing of requests
US GAO Report: Patent Policy United States General Accounting Office. Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce House of Representatives. Patent Policy. Department of Commerce Involvement in Department of Energy Activities.
Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 PL 99-502 Talking points or report for a presentation. This summarizes and succinctly explains the major points of the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986.
Article: Why Subsidize Importers? Foreigners Use Our Universities to Bury Our Industry Appeared in The Washington Post. Discusses some of the problems that led to the passing of the Bayh-Dole Act.
Memo from Bryan Culp to Senator Dole 
Review of the Bayh-Dole Act: Testimony by Senator Dole Review of the Bayh-Dole Act Testimony by Senator Dole to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks. Dole discusses the successes of the Bayh-Dole Act, 14 years after it was signed.
AAU Steering Committee on Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property: A Proposal Association of American Universities Steering Committee Proposal. Discusses the general research agreement situation between universities and industry and in response to recent government actions, calls for reviews, reports, recommendations going forward.
Article: Technology Transfer Boom Offers Scientists Rewards - And Challenges Top article on the front page of The Scientist: the newspaper for the science professional.
S. 414, University and Small Business Patent Procedures Act A bill to amend title 35 of the United States Code; to establish a uniform Federal patent procedure for small businesses and nonprofit organizations; to create a consistent policy and procedure concerning patentability of inventions made with Federal assistance; and for other related purposes.
Statement of Senator Robert Dole on Introduction of Uniform Patent Procedures Act of 1983 This statement references prior Bayh-Dole 1980 legislation