Diffusion of Organisational Practices in Turbulent Environments: An Empirical Analysis of University-Level Patent Regulations

Using a neo-institutional perspective, we analyse the complete set of 42 regulations issued by Italian universities to manage patenting activities, after being given more autonomy in several areas, from staff recruitment to students' curricula. In a few years, patenting gained legitimation through a mimesis of the most visible and prestigious institutions. When a new IP law granting IPRs on public employees' inventions to the employees themselves was issued, the universities failed to comply, or did so formally, and they designed effective incentives for the inventors to grants IPRs to their institution, too. Also, we found instances for a normative isomorphism.