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SUMMARY OF MULTIPLE RESPONSE QUESTIONS

V. Check all of the following statements that correctly describe the current status of this patent:

Patent has been assigned to employer
Patent is being used commerically
Patent has been licenced or sold

86%

238

68

Process or product development is in progress....
Patent is not in use

14%

30%

Patent has been released to me by employer

18

Current status unknown

15%

X. Has this patent resulted in, or do you expect it to result in: (check all that apply)

Recognition (public or private) from your employer Monetary award or bonus (or "points" leading to such an award)

31%

178

Non-monetary commemorative medal or plaque

A change in job assignment or favorable consideration 11%
None of above

49%

88

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In preparation for the June 27, 1979, Task Force meeting, Dr. Willard Marcy has requested that the enclosed written comments that were received in relation to the compensation for employed inventors survey be forwarded to you for your review.

Dr. Marcy urges you to read all of the written comments which were received, since the primary topic of discussion at this meeting will be the survey results. Tabulations of the results will be transmitted to you by the

end of the week.

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1. My present salary does not reflect my inventive capability. I left my previous employer, who owns all my patents, because he failed to recognize my contribution to the company.

2.

On inventions: The most successful inventions which were commercialized were outside my assignments. Thru diligence & persistence against obstacles I pursued until company recognized invention for its commercial capabilities.

(In 1978 the sales

I feel I

I received $1.00 but never any compensation.
amounted to $8MM (50% gross profit). I could accept this if it
weren't for the invention being outside my work assignment.
should have gotten something for such a colossal effort. Oh well,
such is the inventor's life.

3. I pioneered this invention from laboratory to pilot plant to manufacturing at two locations. When either location made bad material it was the fault of my invention, even though it had been manufactured for years. I have sat in many meetings where 2 V-P. 's and even the P would point fingers at me. After flying to the problem plant and correcting the manufacturing problem, some engineer would be fired, calm would set in until it happened again.

4.

5.

Now, since sales have reached a million dollars, there is a patent
litigation against a competitor who has exactly copied the invention.
I am now in the midst of a patent suit. The patent lawyer said (3,000
miles away) that I did an outstanding job on the interrogatories. If
we win the case fine, however if we loose, I predict that the same
V.P.'s will be pointing their fingers at me saying I should have done
so and so and why didn't I do this or that or how come I even applied
for a patent and If I did I should have done a better job of preparing
it...ad nauseum.

I do not believe the company gives adequate recognition to employee for patents unless it is fruitful for the company.

When I am hired as a scientist it is recognized by me that anything related to my company is the property of my employer. I think this is as it should be. The token payments usually given, $1, $5, $10, are just that, tokens. Salary, promotions, etc. should reflect one's value to a firm. My observation would say that is generally true. 6. I am no longer employed by the company where my invention was protected. I found out by accident from one of my colleagues that the patent was issued in my name. Only by writings to the company was I given a copy of the final patent. I never received even a $1 payment for my invention.

7.

X/2: There was a bonus system with employees (in 1976), I never received money because they miscalculated the pilot runs (R&D costs) for production's sales price bases. I left the company so I have no knowledge about the rest of the 3-4 years time of bonus calculations. Maybe my co-authors got something (SyGron division). At my recent employers the "one & for all $1.00" prevails.

8. I have no quarrel with the handling of my existing patent. It was something I came up with in a routine tech service job while I was in R&D.

But during the past year I was fortunate enough to solve a technical problem in an elegant way, but one with marginal patentability. The production manager said "I have half a dozen patents, but you did something that happens once in a career." The plant manager said that it is "worth millions."

So I am at age 40 making less than $25,000; I got a whopping 7% last year, a month take. (If you finesse 12 people out of one month's increase each, that's like getting one guy for a whole year.) At the last informal company gathering, I was introduced as "our mad scientist."

With all of this, you will note that I did not check that I am seeking employment. When I move I will have to move quickly. This is a regional industry where it is hard to keep a secret. If one is caught looking around, a few discreet phone calls can lay the blackball on That sounds hard to believe, but I know people it has happened to. Try that with migrant fruit pickers and they'll get you on peonage charges, and that's a "federal case," as they say.

one.

9. Patent was recognized by luncheon and gift worth less than $25.

10. Re: Last Patent: Employer pursued applications to the point of acceptance by Patent Office, but required to finalize by paying issuing fee, because of change in policy towards patents. At same time, employer refused to assign patent to me, or to allow me to pay issue fees (approx. $100) even though I offered to waive $200 award (for patent) and continue to assign patent to employer. Finally, patent was offered to U. S. Army by employer, free; U. S. Army accepted and filed on patent. I was awarded $200 by employer for successful patent. U. S. Army has patent.

Someone needs to explain all that to me!!

11. Regarding Company Benefits Accrued By Employee Patents

T. Cash Received insulting low ($1.00)

2. Company should assign cash benefits resulting from increased sales/ profits due to patent use. Profit Sharing (% of increased monies) is preferred.

3. Lack of proper company recognition and profit sharing to employee promotes decreased activity, re: creativity and interest for future patent work.

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