The University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer wants to make it clear that student entrepreneurs can pursue their inventions on campus without concern that the University will later try to claim ownership.
That's why the office is making several changes to its Technology Transfer Policy.
The most significant change clarifies the ownership provisions for intellectual property created by students. University policy is now unambiguous: Student entrepreneurs are the sole owners of their inventions, even if they work on a project in a University design course, receive guidance from a faculty member, or use specialized University equipment.
However, inventions made on the job by UM student employees will be treated as employee inventions. In those cases, the University would claim ownership.
"We want to do whatever we can to encourage student entrepreneurship, and this change clears the way for students to openly bring their ideas to campus," said Kenneth Nisbet, Tech Transfer executive director.
The proposed Technology Transfer Policy revisions were presented to the Board of Regents at its June 18 meeting.
Student entrepreneurism is a growing interest at the University of Michigan. Tech Transfer officials work regularly with UM students at the Zell-Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the College of Engineering's Center for Entrepreneurship, and MPowered Entrepreneurship, a student entrepreneur organization.
In recent years, there's been some confusion about the tech transfer policy dealing with ownership of intellectual property. Tech transfer officials received inquiries about a clause stating that the University could claim ownership of intellectual property developed by student inventors who relied on "direct or indirect support of funds administered by the University."
Let's say a student devised a new Web tool and wanted to tinker with it using equipment at the UM Duderstadt Center on North Campus. Would the student's use of that equipment constitute indirect support that could later lead to a UM ownership claim?
That was never the intent, Nisbet said. To make the policy crystal clear, the newly revised version simply eliminates the clause about direct or indirect support.
"This change both clarifies our intent and sends a strong message," Nisbet said. "The message is that students are encouraged to bring their ideas to campus and that we're eager to help them pursue those ideas."
More at www.techtransfer.umich.edu.
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