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Katharine Ku
Chief Licensing Advisor
Technology Transactions
Palo Alto
kathy.ku@wsgr.com

D650-868-3694

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Katharine (Kathy) Ku is the chief licensing advisor in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. She is also a member of the technology transactions and the patents and innovations practice groups.

Kathy is an internationally recognized leader in the field of technology transfer. She served as the Executive Director of Stanford University's Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) for 27 years. During that period, OTL licensed hundreds of new technologies, bringing in $1.8 billion, most of which went back to support research and education at Stanford.

Kathy also spearheaded the development and implementation of nine principles related to university technology licensing. The principles are set forth in document entitled "In the Public Interest: Nine Points to Consider in Licensing University Technology." More than 120 institutions have adopted the principles since they were published in 2007.

Experience

Katharine (Kathy) Ku is the chief licensing advisor in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. She is also a member of the technology transactions and the patents and innovations practice groups.

Kathy is an internationally recognized leader in the field of technology transfer. She served as the Executive Director of Stanford University's Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) for 27 years. During that period, OTL licensed hundreds of new technologies, bringing in $1.8 billion, most of which went back to support research and education at Stanford.

Kathy also spearheaded the development and implementation of nine principles related to university technology licensing. The principles are set forth in document entitled "In the Public Interest: Nine Points to Consider in Licensing University Technology." More than 120 institutions have adopted the principles since they were published in 2007.

Education
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Cornell University
Honors
  • Recipient, Bayh-Dole Award, Association of University Technology Managers, 2001
Admissions
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Credentials
Education
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Cornell University
Honors
  • Recipient, Bayh-Dole Award, Association of University Technology Managers, 2001
Admissions
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Focus Areas
  • Life Sciences
  • Life Sciences Business Advisory Practice
  • Technology Transactions
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises Radar Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to $13.4 Million Seed Funding
On May 23, 2024, Radar Therapeutics, a biotech company developing smart programmable medicines, announced the completion of an oversubscribed $13.4 million in seed financing led by NfX Bio. Major investors Eli Lilly and Company, Biovision Ventures, and KdT Ventures also joined the round, with participation from PearVC, BEVC, and other investors. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Radar Therapeutics on IP matters related to the transaction.
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Alerts
Draft Guidance Puts March-In Authority Pursuant to Bayh-Dole in the News Once Again
On December 8, 2023, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released the Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights (guidance) to the public for comment. The comment period ends February 6, 2024. The information received in response to the guidance will inform NIST and the Interagency Working Group for Bayh-Dole (IAWGBD) in developing a final framework document that may be used by an agency when deciding whether to exercise its march-in authority. While the guidance is the first federal framework specifying that price can be a factor in considering whether the government may exercise its march-in authority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 200 et seq. (Bayh-Dole), this is not the first time that attention has been drawn to the government’s march-in authority.
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Recent Events
Speaking Engagements
AUTM Western Regional Meeting
On Wednesday, September 25th, Chief Licensing Advisor Katharine Ku and Technology Transactions partner Barath Chari will speak on the panel, Licensing Deep Tech is Not Like Licensing Biotech, at the AUTM Western Regional meeting.
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Speaking Engagements
AUTM The Eastern Region Meeting
On Thursday, September 12th at 1:15 pm/ET Katharine (Kathy) Ku, Chief Licensing Advisor, will moderate a panel discussion at the AUTM Eastern Regional Meeting entitled, "Licensing Deep Tech is not Like Licensing Biotech!" with fellow Wilson Sonsini partner Manja Sachet along with Aimee Rose, Executive Director at Activate, Mary Albertson, Director at Georgia Tech, and Andrew Gollach, Partner at HAX.
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