On December 1st, a University-wide email was sent out by VR Election Services on behalf of the University of California, demanding faculty follow a link and electronically sign their names to an amendment to the 1997 UC Patent Agreement.
While the systemwide Academic Council seems to consent to the changes, they indicate UC should not require all faculty to sign:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/reports/RA_LPrepatentagmt_FINAL.pdf
Several faculty members have blogged their concerns about the contractual changes:
http://ucsdfa.org/uc-patent-amendment-to-sign-or-not-to-sign/482
http://rtei.org/blog/2011/11/30/sample-language-for-my-uc-friends/
We note that the deadline that UC has set for the current signature gathering effort is not until February 29.
We recommend that all faculty put off signing this patent amendment until independent counsel has had a chance to advise us on the issue.