View source for Stevenson–Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980

{{Infobox U.S. legislation
| shorttitle      = Stevenson–Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980
| longtitle       = An Act to promote United States technological innovation for the achievement of national economic, environmental, and social goals, and for other purposes.
| acronym         =
| nickname        =
| enacted by      = 96th
| effective date  = October 21, 1980
| cite public law = {{USPL|96|480}}
| cite statutes at large = {{USStat|94|2311}}
| acts amended    =
| acts repealed   =
| title amended   = [[Title 15 of the United States Code|15 U.S.C.: Commerce and Trade]]
| sections created = {{usctc|15|63}} <!--{{USC}} can be used-->
| sections amended = Chapter 63 § 3701
| leghisturl      = http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d096:SN01250:@@@X
| introducedin    = Senate
| introducedbill  = {{USBill|96|S.|1250}}
| introducedby    = [[Adlai E. Stevenson, III]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[Illinois|IL]])
| introduceddate  = May 24, 1979
| committees      = [[Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee]] and [[House Science and Technology Committee]]
| passedbody1     = Senate
| passeddate1     = May 28, 1980
| passedvote1     = passed
| passedbody2     = House
| passedas2       = <!-- used if the second body changes the name of the legislation -->
| passeddate2     = September 8, 1980
| passedvote2     = passed
| conferencedate  =
| passedbody3     =
| passeddate3     =
| passedvote3     =
| agreedbody3     = Senate
| agreeddate3     = September 26, 1980
| agreedvote3     = agreed
| agreedbody4     = House
| agreeddate4     = October 1, 1980
| agreedvote4     = agreed
| passedbody4     =
| passeddate4     =
| passedvote4     =
| signedpresident = [[Jimmy Carter]]
| signeddate      = October 21, 1980
| unsignedpresident = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| unsigneddate    = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| vetoedpresident = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| vetoeddate      = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| amendments      =
| SCOTUS cases    =
}}
The '''Stevenson–Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980''' (Pub.L. 96–480) (94 Stat. 2311) was the first major U.S. [[technology transfer]] [[law]]. It required [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] laboratories to actively participate in and budget for technology transfer activities.
The Stevenson–Wydler Technology Innovation Act was signed into law by U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]] on October 21, 1980.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=45343 |title = Jimmy Carter: "Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 Statement on Signing S. 1250 Into Law" October 21, 1980 |author1= Gerhard Peters |author2 = John T. Woolley |publisher = University of California - Santa Barbara |work = The American Presidency Project |accessdate= 15 May 2013}}</ref>
The Stevenson–Wydler Act specifies, that inventors at government laboratories receive the first $2,000 of royalties each year plus 15% of any additional royalties.<ref>15 U.S.C. § 3710c(a)(1)(A)(i) (2018)</ref> Such details are in contrast with the [[Bayh–Dole Act]], which leaves up to the universities the decision how to split the revenue between the inventors and the institution.<ref>Ouellette, L. L. and R. Weires (2019). "University patenting: Is private law serving public values?" Mich. St. L. Rev.: 1329</ref>
==Background==
The Act made it easier for federal laboratories to transfer technology to nonfederal entities and provided outside organizations with a means for accessing federal laboratory technologies.
The primary focus of the Stevenson–Wydler Act was to disseminate information from the federal government to the public and to require federal laboratories to actively engage in the technology transfer process. The law requires laboratories to set apart a percentage of the laboratory budget specifically for technology transfer activities. The law, specified in 15 USC § 3710, also established an [[Office of Research and Technology Applications]] (ORTA)-- staffed by at least 1 full-time person—in any laboratory with 200 or more scientific, engineering, or related technical positions, in order to coordinate and promote technology transfer.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 public law 96-480 - Springer |date=1981-09-30 |doi=10.1007/BF02173394 |volume=5 |journal=The Journal of Technology Transfer |pages=69–80|last1 = Jolly|first1 = J. A.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d096:SN01250:@@@L&summ2=m& |title=Bill Summary & Status - 96th Congress (1979 - 1980) - S.1250 - All Information - THOMAS (Library of Congress) |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |date=1980-10-21 |accessdate=2013-03-04 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/3710 |title=15 USC § 3710 - Utilization of Federal technology &#124; Title 15 - Commerce and Trade &#124; U.S. Code &#124; LII / Legal Information Institute |publisher=Law.cornell.edu |date= |accessdate=2013-03-04}}</ref>
The Act created the [[Technology Administration]] in the [[Commerce Department]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=2SNl6MoZ464C&pg=PA40&lpg=PA40 Section 5 of 15 U.S.C. 3704] at google books</ref> which lasted until 2007.
This Act was the first of a number of laws defining and promoting technology transfer. The law was later amended by the [[Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986]] and the [[America COMPETES Act]]s.
==See also==
* [[Bayh–Dole Act]] of 1980 (P.L. 96-517)
* [[Executive Order 12999|Executive Order 12999: Educational Technology]]
* [[Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-9476/uslm/COMPS-9476.xml Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980] ([https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-9476/pdf/COMPS-9476.pdf PDF]/[https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/COMPS-9476/ details]) as amended in the [[United States Government Publishing Office|GPO]] [https://www.govinfo.gov/help/comps Statute Compilations collection]
{{USCTitles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980}}
[[Category:United States federal commerce legislation]]
[[Category:Technology transfer]]