Intellectual property implications for forestry research managers: Striving for win-win

Abstract

Competent management of intellectual property is now a key issue for research managers increasingly driven on the one hand by more commercial approaches to research management) and on the other by the need to enter into partnerships where both inputs and outputs are shared. Products of forestry research activities that are relevant to intellectual property discussions include genetic material) computer software) technological systems) and information and data. Relevant legal instruments for the protection of these include plant breeder)s rights) copyright) patents) and confidential information legislation. This presentation considers the elements of each of these and the manner in which they are applicable to forestry research. Relevant issues for forestry research managers are identified for discussion at this forum. These issues include: the ethics of intellectual property management; recognition of a public domain)· auditing and valuing intellectual property)· access to skills in the management of intellectual property)· the extent to which an organisation should be involved in ongoing commercialization). In-house commercialisation versus partnerships)· intellectual property agreements; and the application of royalties in forestry. For most of these) a variety of options is available to the research manager. In many cases) there are no firm rules for determining the appropriate course. Experience is critical, and the opportunities for sharing of experience afforded by a workshop such as this are invaluable.

Parent Publication

• Cooperative strategies for forest science management and leadership in an increasingly complex and globalized world: Proceedings of a workshop; 23- 26 August 1998; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Citation

Haines, Russell. 1999. Intellectual property implications for forestry research managers: Striving for win-win. In: Eskew, Lane G.; DeYoe, David R.; Burns, Denver P.; Mercier, Jean-Claude, comps. Cooperative strategies for forest science management and leadership in an increasingly complex and globalized world: Proceedings of a workshop; 23- 26 August 1998; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Proceedings RMRS-P-6. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 33-40.