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Having worked in the university tech transfer system, I can say that, for a fact, it is extremely flawed and unable to appropriately address modern software, le

by aspir 16y ago

Having worked in the university tech transfer system, I can say that, for a fact, it is extremely flawed and unable to appropriately address modern software, let alone student-generated apps. Its an archaic model that works best with heavily patentable biotech, semiconductors, and the like. Tech Transfer offices nationwide have all been left scratching their heads about the issue raised by this article. However, most TT officials have little hands on development experience within the past 5 years or more; they're completely oblivious to modern trends in entrepreneurship. When in doubt, they often are too strict. Likely, Mizzou has adjusted their policy to retain some ownership rights of all of the "work students do as part of a class, to student work created as part of a competition, to work students do in an extracurricular group that is sponsored by the university." The nationwide advisory branch (AUTM) may claim that they don't want to hold student work, but it's decided at a university level. When universities begin to see lost potential revenue, they'll want a piece of it. My advice to students is to not use university resources for anything unless you have to. Use your own computers, get a "work" email off of the school's server, and perhaps do your work via a coffee shop's WiFi instead of the school's. It may seem extreme, but it's better safe than sorry.

orangewarp 16y ago
Prudent to be on the safe side but also difficult. When you live and breathe grad life, it's really hard to keep the projects separate from the thinking, collaborating, working that naturally comes from being in an environment full of bright, motivated, enthusiastic people. And this is part of the dilemma right? Being in the school environment is clearly a priceless opportunity to find and work with great colleagues. Very important to find out if you'd make it with these people after you're bumped out of the safe harbor that is academia. So, waiting till graduation is a cost with its own potential risks and drawbacks. I agree that we should be cautious and try to minimize the footprint we leave for the school to point out. But the hurdle to truly separate everything is quite high, and given the options it's probably going to end up a situation where you just have to do what you do in stealth mode to some extent. At least until Universities address this issue very explicitly and clearly. It's great that this issue is being raised. Perhaps there needs to be more student advocacy to take this issue forward and work with Universities to articulate very clear guidelines of what is acceptable and not. Like you said, the old models don't reflect the nature of entrepreneurship today and the nebulous boundaries are keeping people from charging ahead on the things that matter most.
bugsy 16y ago
Yes, it's important to understand that policies with terms such as "funds, space, personnel, equipment or facilities" uses "or" and not "and". Space, equipment and facilities means that if you are sitting in the student lounge or in the dorm you are paying to rent and writing code for your new business on your own private computer that you bought with your own money, and you never plug into the university's internet connection or use their wifi, you are still using the university's "space equipment and facilities" and if your business becomes worth something, it is the obligation of the university legal team to take you down and seize ownership of your work.

by aspir 16y ago

orangewarp 16y ago

Prudent to be on the safe side but also difficult. When you live and breathe grad life, it's really hard to keep the projects separate from the thinking, collaborating, working that naturally comes from being in an environment full of bright, motivated, enthusiastic people. And this is part of the dilemma right? Being in the school environment is clearly a priceless opportunity to find and work with great colleagues. Very important to find out if you'd make it with these people after you're bumped out of the safe harbor that is academia. So, waiting till graduation is a cost with its own potential risks and drawbacks. I agree that we should be cautious and try to minimize the footprint we leave for the school to point out. But the hurdle to truly separate everything is quite high, and given the options it's probably going to end up a situation where you just have to do what you do in stealth mode to some extent. At least until Universities address this issue very explicitly and clearly. It's great that this issue is being raised. Perhaps there needs to be more student advocacy to take this issue forward and work with Universities to articulate very clear guidelines of what is acceptable and not. Like you said, the old models don't reflect the nature of entrepreneurship today and the nebulous boundaries are keeping people from charging ahead on the things that matter most.

bugsy 16y ago

Yes, it's important to understand that policies with terms such as "funds, space, personnel, equipment or facilities" uses "or" and not "and". Space, equipment and facilities means that if you are sitting in the student lounge or in the dorm you are paying to rent and writing code for your new business on your own private computer that you bought with your own money, and you never plug into the university's internet connection or use their wifi, you are still using the university's "space equipment and facilities" and if your business becomes worth something, it is the obligation of the university legal team to take you down and seize ownership of your work.