Connecticut House Bill HB05543

Connecticut 2010 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/19/10
• Refer: 3/19/10
• Report Pass: 3/29/10
• Refer: 4/9/10
• Report Pass: 4/15/10
• Refer: 4/20/10
• Report Pass: 4/26/10
• Engrossed: 4/30/10
• Report Pass: 5/1/10
• Chaptered: 5/13/10
• Enrolled: 5/18/10
• Passed: 5/26/10

Caption

An Act Concerning Patents, Trademarks Or Licensing Agreements For Inventions And Discoveries Of Employees Of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

Impact

The bill's implementation is expected to strengthen the state's ability to manage intellectual property generated by its staff, making it more efficient in pursuing patents and securing funding for research projects. By claiming ownership over the inventions, the station can more effectively monetize findings and reinvest those resources back into further research and scientific endeavors. This measure ultimately aligns the interests of the institution with the goals of employee innovation, potentially leading to advancements in agricultural science and technology in Connecticut.

Summary

House Bill 5543, known as An Act Concerning Patents, Trademarks or Licensing Agreements for Inventions and Discoveries of Employees of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, establishes a clear framework for the ownership and control of inventions made by employees during their work. This legislation explicitly states that the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station will have ownership rights over any inventions made by employees that are conceived as part of their duties or through the use of state resources. The bill is aimed at ensuring that the institution can benefit from the innovations developed through its operations, thereby enhancing its research capabilities and funding prospects.

Sentiment

Overall, sentiments around HB 5543 seem to be supportive among members of the legislature who recognize the importance of consolidating intellectual property rights for research institutions. Proponents argue that it will enable the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to maximize its contributions to science and the economy. However, there may be concerns from employees regarding the loss of individual rights over their creations, which could lead to a perceived imbalance in the sharing of benefits derived from their inventions.

Contention

There are notable points of contention regarding the fairness of the distribution of benefits from employee inventions. While the bill stipulates that employees are entitled to a share of net proceeds from their ideas, questions may arise about the percentage and fairness of this compensation. Additionally, potential conflicts could emerge concerning the definition of what constitutes a state-conceived invention versus personal projects undertaken by employees, thus raising issues about employee autonomy and motivation.