Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1918 [PAGE 671]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

66 5

Executive Staff of the Engineering Experiment Station was giving consideration to a definite procedure to be followed in taking oat patents on discoveries or inventions made by members of the teaching and scientific staffs of the College of Engineering and the Engineering Experiment Station, and that his discovery would probably come within the scope of the proposed regulations. Anticipating that these regulations would ultimately be approved by the Executive Staff of the Engineering Experiment Station and probably by the Board of Trustees, I referred the correspondence concerning Dr. Kunz's invention to a committee of the Station Staff, consisting of Professors A. P. Carman, A. N. Talbot and E. W. Washburn. The report of this committee includes a recommendation that Dr. Kunz be directed to apply for a patent on his photo-electric cell, that the cost thereof be borne by the University, and that the patent, when secured, be assigned to the Board of Trustees of the University upon the payment of a fee sufficient to make the transaction legal. The report of this committee has been discussed and approved by the Executive Staff of thej Engineering Experiment Station, and the Director was requested to present the matter to you and to the Board of Trustees for approval. The expense connected with taking out letters patent is not large. I think that under normal circumstances not over $200 would be required to cover patent-office fees and the services of a competent patent attorney. Whether the University could or should attempt to hold a patent of this sort, with a view to making profit in the transaction, is a question whicli seems to me should be determined in each case that may arise. The procedure recommended would enable us to exercise such authority over the invention as would safeguard the interests of the University and the public, which is not assured under the present practice in regard to such matters. I am enclosing copies of the correspondence concerning this invention. Very truly yours,

C. R. RICHARDS

On motion of Mr. Trimble, this recommendation was approved, and the President of the University was authorized to direct the taking out of such a patent. The vote was as follows: Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Busey, Mr. Carr, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Taggart, Mr. Trimble, Miss Watson; noes, none; absent, Mr. Lowden, Mr. Trevett, Mr. Ward. At this point, Mrs. Busey withdrew. PURCHASE OF LAND IN URBANA

(17) A recommendation from the Supervising Architect that lot 4, block 55, of the Seminary Addition to the city of Urbana be purchased by the University for the sum of $3,250, on condition that the owner put the house in good rentable condition, pay the taxes for 1917, and furnish a merchantable title. The purchase of this lot will give the University the