Campus Highlights: UC Santa Barbara

Campus Notes:

After growing by two-thirds from FY95 to FY96, the number of new invention disclosures remained stable in FY97. However, the FY96 increase in disclosures resulted in a large increase in patenting and licensing activity in FY97.

For FY97, more than 75% of total income and all of the $192,000 drop in income was attributable to earned royalty activity on two inventions. Income on the Atomic Force Microscope decreased by $141,000 to $473,000 because one quarterly payment was received late, after the close of the fiscal year. This timing problem should correct itself in FY98. However, due to production problems that have only recently been resolved, UCSB’s share of income on Marine Anti-inflammatory (invented jointly with the San Diego campus) decreased by $75,000 to only $32,000 in FY97. The future of this invention is now uncertain.

Net legal expenses increased by 80% due to increases in patent prosecution activity. Licensing expenses also increased as OTT professionals actively marketed newer inventions. If licensees are identified, patent costs may be recovered at a later time. The State share reflected a credit in FY97 because net legal expenses plus inventor shares exceeded income.

Due to the decrease in income and the increase in net legal expenses, the campus moved from a net income position in FY96 to a net loss position in FY97. Presuming that income streams for the two top earning inventions stablize and some of the newer promising inventions are licensed, this trend should begin to reverse itself in FY98.