This obligation is carried out by the technology transfer office, usually an administrative unit within each university. Universities are permitted to recoup only those expenses incurred in the patenting and licensing process. Any excess revenues must be used by the institution for purposes of education and research and may not be accumulated for the benefit of the technology transfer office. Universities are more interested in patenting inventions than publishing research findings for the public to use. All universities must adhere to the academic tradition of publication.
Publication remains a primary factor in tenure decisions.
Publication is also the main vehicle for academic professional recognition and is important to establish credibility in grant applications. Most importantly, publication in peer-reviewed journals is validation of the findings of the academic scientist. Patenting does not mean there is no publication. All university research findings are available for publication whether or not patenting occurs. Publication, on the other hand, does not necessarily result in public use.