Tell Your University: Don't Sell Patents to Trolls

Action small reclaiminvention

When universities invent, those inventions should benefit everyone. Unfortunately, they sometimes end up in the hands of patent trolls, companies that serve no purpose but to amass patents and demand money from other innovators and inventors.

Why are universities selling patents to trolls in the first place? Shouldn’t they sell their inventions to companies that will actually do something with them?

We’re asking universities across the country to protect their inventions from trolls by signing the Public Interest Patent Pledge. The PIPP is a promise that before selling or licensing its patents to a third party, a university will assess the business practices of that party and make sure that those parties will use those patents responsibly.

Any college or university in the U.S. can sign the pledge. Together, we can show that the education community cares about innovation.

Ask your university to sign the PIPP.

Electronic Frontier AllianceCreative CommonsEngine AdvocacyFight for the FutureKnowledge Ecology InternationalPublic Knowledge

2,379 students, faculty members, alumni, and community members have demanded that their universities sign the Public Interest Patent Pledge.

Signed

Take Action

Your name and affiliations will be published on our site.
2,379 signatures

Illustration of a woman with green hair using a laptop

Thank You!

Your action is important and contributes to preserving a free, open internet.


Spread the word:

EFF is supported by donations from folks like you. We appreciate anything you can give!

Donate
Outside the US?
In the US?
? EFF uses the information you provide to defend digital rights, including improving our campaigns and sharing information about them, and to contact decisionmakers on your behalf. For details, see our privacy policy at eff.org/policy. How will EFF use this information?
Illustration of a woman with green hair using a laptop

Thank You!

Your action is important and contributes to preserving a free, open internet.


Spread the word:

EFF is supported by donations from folks like you. We appreciate anything you can give!

Donate