Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 3.djvu/644

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114 STAT. 1742 PUBLIC LAW 106-404—NOV. 1, 2000 Public Law 106-404 106th Congress Nov. 1, 2000 [H.R. 209] Technology Transfer Commercialization Act of 2000. 15 USC 3701 note. 15 USC 3701 note. An Act To improve the ability of Federal agencies to license federally owned inventions. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Technology Transfer CommerciaHzation Act of 2000". SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that— (1) the importance of Unking our unparalleled network of over 700 Federal laboratories and our Nation's universities with United States industry continues to hold great promise for our future economic prosperity; (2) the enactment of the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980 was a landmark change in United States technology policy, and its success provides a framework for removing bureaucratic barriers and for simplifying the granting of licenses for inventions that are now in the Federal Government's patent portfolio; (3) Congress has demonstrated a commitment over the past 2 decades to fostering technology transfer from our Federal laboratories and to promoting public/private sector partnerships to enhance our international competitiveness; (4) Federal technology transfer activities have strengthened the ability of United States industry to compete in the global marketplace; developed a new paradigm for greater collaboration among the scientific enterprises that conduct our Nation's research and development—^government, industry, and universities; and improved the quality of life for the American people, from medicine to materials; (5) the technology transfer process must be made "industry friendly" for companies to be willing to invest the significant time and resources needed to develop new products, processes, and jobs using federally funded inventions; and (6) Federal technology licensing procedures should balance the public policy needs of adequately protecting the rights of the public, encouraging companies to develop existing government inventions, and making the entire system of licensing government technologies more consistent and simple. SEC. 3. COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS. Section 12(b)( 1) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(b)(l)) is amended by inserting "or, subject to section 209 of title 35, United States Code, may grant