Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 Digital Collection

The IU Libraries Modern Political Papers collections and the Digital Library Program announce the opening of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 Digital Collection. The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 created the framework for universities to develop and profit from products emerging from federally funded research, which had previously been nearly impossible. The legislation also simplified patent procedure, dissolving the logjam of 28,000 patents awaiting approval in the U.S. Patent Office and eliminating overlapping and redundant procedures. Its effect on universities and the development of all kinds of technologies has been tremendous. The Bayh-Dole Act Digital Collection consists of the documents relating to that legislation in the Birch Bayh Senatorial Papers of the IU Libraries Modern Political Papers collections. The digital collection is complemented by online resources on the Bayh-Dole Act History and Research Central site of the Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property of the University of New Hampshire Law School, providing an incomparable collection of resources on the struggle for passage of the act and the extensive bipartisan work that made it possible.