Come up with an idea in class and make money off it? Your college wants their cut

[The Straight Story]

Young inventors prompt colleges to revamp rules

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Tony Brown didn't set out to overhaul his college's policies on intellectual property. He just wanted an easier way of tracking local apartment rentals on his iPhone.

The University of Missouri student came up with an idea in class one day that spawned an iPhone application that has had more than 250,000 downloads since its release in March 2009. The app created by Brown and three other undergraduates won them a trip to Apple headquarters along with job offers from Google and other technology companies.

But the invention also raised a perplexing question when university lawyers abruptly demanded a 25 percent ownership stake and two-thirds of any profits. Who owns the patents and copyrights when a student creates something of value on campus, without a professor's help?

"We were incredibly surprised, and intimidated at the same time," Brown said. "You're facing an institution hundreds of years older than you, and with thousands more people. It was almost like there were no other options than to give in."

The issue has been cropping up on campuses across the nation, spurred by the boom in computer software in which teenagers tinkering in dorm rooms are coming up with products that rival the work of professional engineers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110124/ap_on_re_us/us_student_inventors

[RC]

1. Greed at work

Did they do it on their own time? Did they use any college resources, help, etc.? Not that it matters because the student are paying to be there. Most colleges are already gouging students for tuition and now this?

All this does is stifle ingenuity.

[Angry Dragon]

2. The colleges are not paying the students to go to school

so they have no standing
What they do in class or out of class is their business
and the school has no control of that

Just more bull from greedy people

[formercia]

3. It was like that in Grad School

I was taking a microcontroller design class, until I found out the prof was using the designs developed by his students in his personal business. I refused to turn over mine and he flunked me for the class. It was a good design too. Fuck these assholes.

[avaistheone1]

4. The prof's azz should have been fired instead.

[jberryhill]

5. There is typically an invention assignment form in grad school

...tucked into the admission acceptance and enrollment forms.

Since the OP references "undergraduates", it is likely a different kettle of fish.

[jp11]

6. There was a simliar policy at my school not being a lawyer

I simply figured I'd be better off keeping any 'good' ideas I had to myself until I was done with the school.

[firehorse]

7. If the idea wasn't generated from a class assignment, then the college has no claim

The message they are sending is if you have a good idea, quit school.

[RKP5637]

8. More BS from a corporate empire. n/t

[Javaman]

9. did the student sign a contract involving intellectual property?

if not, the school can go fuck off.