3 ms·

You say they get to keep IP jointly with the University. Then you say that that person who keeps IP doesn't exist... You are talking on the general plight and

You say they get to keep IP jointly with the University. Then you say that that person who keeps IP doesn't exist... You are talking on the general plight and struggles of academics, which is another subject, and a subject I have no comment for. This or that aspect of being a professor really has nothing to do with this topic. I am saying, again, that anything a professor develops, designs, or discovers while collecting a salary or having his research otherwise paid for out of tax revenues should have no ownership of it or financial compensation for it whatsoever (prizes are not compensation), and it should be placed in the public domain, just as the work of a government employee would be. Financial benefit should go to the party taking the financial risk. A professor takes no financial risk when he researches things, as he collects a salary regardless of his success or failure in any course of research. Rather, all financial risk and cost is paid out of tax revenues.

scott_s 17y ago
Academics can patent their work jointly with their university, but they rarely do. They have very little incentive to do so: the gulf between what an academic produces and something that is widely useful is usually huge, and academics are not evaluated on patents. Most universities would probably prefer that professors and graduate students patent their work, since it's the university that's more likely to benefit. But professor and grad students rarely bother because, again, they have no incentive. I brought up professor work habits because I felt your impression of their work burden is wrong. I also got the impression that your mistaken impression was feeding your contempt. Let me put it this way: I am unaware of any academic who meets your description. All that I know and know of disseminate their work freely.

scott_s 17y ago

Academics can patent their work jointly with their university, but they rarely do. They have very little incentive to do so: the gulf between what an academic produces and something that is widely useful is usually huge, and academics are not evaluated on patents. Most universities would probably prefer that professors and graduate students patent their work, since it's the university that's more likely to benefit. But professor and grad students rarely bother because, again, they have no incentive. I brought up professor work habits because I felt your impression of their work burden is wrong. I also got the impression that your mistaken impression was feeding your contempt. Let me put it this way: I am unaware of any academic who meets your description. All that I know and know of disseminate their work freely.