Copyright Is ‘Mixed Use” and Now For the ‘Mixed Ownership’?
Just when we were getting comfortable with sorting out the multiple layers of ownership and contribution in the faux Open Source world, the South San Francisco Democrat, Gene Mullin has decided that California needs a state “Office of Intellectual Property”. This new office would act as the broker and auditor of state funded research that leads to patents, copyrights, trade secrets and trademarks.
Bill 2721 specifically does not apply to any of the Stem Cell Research, but would apply to research in agriculture, geothermal resources, breast cancer and other areas. It does not address who would own what when the project is funded by federal or other state’s monies as well.
As one whose grandfather was one of the horticultural genius’s of his age, the idea that plant hybrids are patentable is still a new idea. The idea that a state experimental station researcher’s efforts are now even more complicated in ownership is an even more startling idea. If you haven’t read Michael Pollen’s book “The Omnivores’ Dilemma” you will enjoy reading how he thinks the intellectual property ownership of agriculture should be handled: agribusiness or artisan.