Academic Senate Speakers Explain Patent Forms, E-Grades, and Library Changes

A full slate of guest speakers helped update UC San Diego’s Academic Senate last Tuesday, with Vice Chancellor for Research Sandra Brown, Registrar William Haid and University Librarian Brian Schottlaender describing developments in key areas of campus life.

Chair Joel Sobel introduced the speakers after delivering his own update on the still-dire budget, the review process for two proposed Organized Research Units, and the continuing discussion about making California Western School of Law part of the university.

Vice Chancellor Brown explained that University of California employees, as well as visiting professors, researchers, and others who use UC research facilities or resources, are required to sign an amendment to a patent document that they signed when first coming to UC, a step made necessary by court decisions in a Stanford lawsuit that put the university’s rights to patents and inventions at risk.

E-mails from UCOP-selected vendor VR Election Services, asking employees to electronically sign the amendment, began going out in November but, because of the unfamiliar source of the mail, may have been disregarded or discarded by many recipients, Brown said. About 40 percent of university employees have electronically "signed" the amendment to date.

The e-mail campaign will continue through Feb. 29, with individuals who do not sign the amendment receiving additional reminders.

Researchers, in particular, Brown said, should be aware that it is necessary to sign the amendment in order to participate in activities covered by agreements in which the university has made a legal commitment regarding inventions.

The patent amendment does not change UC’s Patent Policy or an individual’s rights and entitlements regarding intellectual property with which they are associated.