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TITLE VI. Technology Commons

SEC. 601. Establishment of the Technology Commons

(a) PUBLIC REPOSITORY:

Within 1 year, Innovation Justice Council shall create:

An Online Platform hosting:

  1. All innovations developed with federal funding (technical specs, designs, and protocols)
  2. Open-source software and hardware designs
  3. Research data and publications
  4. Training materials and curricula
  5. Traditional knowledge (with community consent)

Platform Name: "Global Innovation Commons" (GlobalCommons.gov)

(b) FREE ACCESS:

No paywalls, no registration barriers, no IP restrictions

Available to:

  • Anyone, anywhere, for any purpose (personal, commercial, and educational)
  • Translated into 100+ languages (priority for Global South languages)
  • Accessible formats (screen readers, mobile-optimized, and low-bandwidth options)

(c) CONTENTS:

All federally funded innovations must be uploaded, including:

  • Sonic fire suppression (CTII research)
  • Sponge city designs (ERA programs)
  • Mycelium production techniques (Circular Materials Hub)
  • Solar Mamas curriculum (CTII)
  • HPV photodynamic therapy protocols (M4A)
  • Kangaroo Mother Care training (M4A)
  • Cocoon manufacturing specs
  • Etc. (every program in your platform!)

(d) ATTRIBUTION EMBEDDED:

Every Entry Includes:

  • Full credit to originators (per Sec. 201)
  • Historical context
  • Links to originators' sites/profiles
  • How to support originators (donations, collaborations)

SEC. 602. Ban on Patenting Public Funded Innovations

(a) FEDERAL FUNDING = PUBLIC OWNERSHIP:

Any innovation developed with federal support (grants, contracts, tax credits, and subsidies) CANNOT be patented

Automatically enters public domain

(b) BAYH-DOLE ACT REPEAL:

The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 (allowed universities to patent federally funded research) is hereby REPEALED

Rationale: Bayh-Dole enabled biopiracy, monopolies, and price gouging. Public funding = public ownership.

(c) EXISTING FEDERALLY FUNDED PATENTS:

Within 2 Years, all patents on innovations developed with federal funding must be:

  • Released to public domain, OR
  • Licensed non-exclusively at reasonable rates (government sets rates)

Universities/Companies May Choose, but cannot maintain exclusive monopolies on public research

(d) EXCEPTION FOR SMALL INVENTORS:

Individual Inventors (not corporations, not universities) who receive <$100k in federal support may still patent (protects garage tinkerers, NOT corporate labs)

SEC. 603. Open-Source Requirements for Federal Contractors

(a) SOFTWARE:

All software developed under federal contracts = Open-Source (GPL, MIT, or similar license)

No Proprietary Code on the Public Dime

(b) HARDWARE:

All Hardware Designs = Open-Source (Creative Commons and CERN Open Hardware License)

Example: Medical devices developed with NIH funding → designs publicly available → anyone can manufacture generics

(c) DATA:

All Research Data = Publicly Available (anonymized where necessary for privacy)

No hoarding data for competitive advantage

SEC. 604. Incentivizing Open-Source

(a) TAX CREDITS FOR OPEN-SOURCING:

Companies that voluntarily release patents to public domain receive:

  • Tax credit = 50% of patent's fair market value
  • Public recognition (government "Innovation Commons Champion" award)

(b) PROCUREMENT PREFERENCE:

Federal government prioritizes open-source in procurement:

  • Open-source software/hardware gets 20% price preference over proprietary
  • All else equal, government buys open-source

(c) PRIZES:

Annual $10M Prize for best open-source innovation in:

  • Medicine
  • Climate tech
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Housing

Judged by: Innovation Justice Council + public voting

SEC. 605. Global South Technology Transfer

(a) PRIORITY ACCESS:

Global South Countries May Request:

  • Technology from Innovation Commons
  • Training in implementation
  • Equipment/infrastructure support
  • Funding for adaptation

(b) US SHALL PROVIDE (as climate reparations and development assistance):

  • Technology transfer (free of charge)
  • Capacity-building (train local engineers and scientists)
  • Infrastructure (build factories, labs, and training centers)
  • Ongoing support (maintenance and upgrades)

(c) NO STRINGS ATTACHED:

  • No structural adjustment
  • No privatization requirements
  • No debt
  • No military alliances

Pure Solidarity

(d) EXAMPLES (from earlier chat):

  • Ghana requests sonic fire suppression → US provides equipment and training
  • Bolivia requests Cocoon manufacturing → US funds factory and trains workers
  • Kenya requests sponge city tech → US sends engineers and funds a demonstration project

(e) BUDGET: $5 billion/year (Technology Transfer Fund)