Easy Access IP: ahead of the game or easy way out?

As university technology transfer offices grapple with how best to commercialize their discoveries, about 25 international universities are turning to Easy Access IP, a strategy to give patented inventions away for free. Supporters argue that giving away IP attracts potential investors, while some non-adopter technology transfer office heads think companies will only be attracted by well-fleshed-out legal agreements.

At the heart of the debate is an issue technology transfer offices (TTOs) and other stakeholders in translational research have talked about for years-the inefficiency and expense associated with licensing university patents...