Should there be corporate concern?: Examining American university intellectual property policies

Academia is an industry like many of those in the private sector. It produces valuable patents, copyrights and other intellectual property. Consequently, the “research for sale” industry by way of corporate/university partnerships continues to grow. While it is certain that academics participating directly in corporate research partnerships are required to abide by project confidentiality agreements, their colleagues and other academic researchers peripherally involved may only be required to adhere to their own university's policies, which may or may not be sufficient. From a corporate executive and strategic policy standpoint, important questions arise. Are corporate interests protected by the presence of valid university intellectual property policies, or should there be concern? In an effort to answer this question, our article examines university policies for the purpose of determining which academic institutions are more likely to maintain protective policies, private or public, and which policies are most prevalent amongst universities: patent, copyright, general loyalty clauses, invention, trademark or trade‐secret policies.