The enactment of the Bayh-Dole Act (P.L. 96-517, Patent and Trademark Act Amendments of 1980) established a uniform patent policy across Federal research-funding agencies. This policy allows non-profit organizations, such as universities that receive Federal research funding, to retain title to inventions arising from Federally-funded research programs. Effectively, the Act decentralized technology management, transferring responsibility for commercialization to universities and other nonprofit institutions. The Act has been credited with significantly boosting U.S. innovation and economic growth, generating an estimated over $1 trillion in revenue, creating thousands of new startup companies, and supporting over four million jobs since its enactment. However, recent governmental actions relating to enforcement of provisions of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 have justifiably raised concerns among stakeholders, including universities and research institutions. Pat Torre takes a look at those concerns in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.