Opinion ID: 210705
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dr. Buckberg's Dealings with UC and NIH

Text: 12 The research that led to the '515 patent was conducted under a grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Dr. Buckberg's employer, the University of California (UC). '515 patent col.1 ll.23-25. The government therefore has certain rights with respect to the patent under the Bayh-Dole Act, 35 U.S.C. §§ 200-212, including the right to be notified of the invention, id. § 202(c)(1), to obtain patents in foreign countries where the inventor does not pursue patent applications, id. § 202(c)(3), a royalty-free nonexclusive license, id. § 202(c)(4), and the ability under certain circumstances to march-in and compel the patentee to grant a license to a third party, id. § 203. 13 During patent prosecution, Dr. Buckberg designated UC as his assignee. On February 12, 1987, UC communicated to NIH its intent to abandon its interest in the pending application. One month later, Dr. Buckberg wrote to NIH to request that it waive patent rights in the application so that he could pursue the application in his personal capacity. See 35 U.S.C. § 202(d) (allowing agencies to grant such requests). NIH granted that waiver on September 23, 1987, on the condition that the inventor shall grant to the Government of the United States a nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use the invention for governmental purposes. . . . This determination will become effective upon receipt of the executed copy [of the license]. Dr. Buckberg made an admission under Fed.R.Civ.P. 36 that he never executed the requested license. 3 The patent issued on January 29, 1991. On June 24, 1991, UC assigned its interest in the '515 patent to Dr. Buckberg. The same day, Dr. Buckberg exclusively licensed the patent to CAPS.