Re: a nudge for me

Bruce Hayden <bhayden[_at_]copatlaw.com> stated:
>
> I might start out by saying that in academia, it seems to be
> assumed that universities own the original work of their students,
> but not faculty, and that this accepted wisdon is probably just
> the opposite of reality. Note though that I am talking ownership
> here, and not license, which may be quite different.

As former counsel for MIT, I must emphasize that this certainly is the opposite of reality. I'm not even sure who subscribes to any contrary myth. At MIT, the Institute makes no claims on the intellectual property of its students or its employees except in the traditional "work for hire" situations. If a student (or a faculty member) is working (or receiving funding/supplies/space) under a sponsored research contract, then the Institute owns the IP that is required to be produced under that employment agreement. It makes no claim to any material that is produced outside the terms of the research contract. Even for course texts, it is not part of the faculty member's general job description to write books, so most of such publications would be their own property.

--
Diane Thilly Cabell, Esq.
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