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Patents Corner
Student Involvment in Patenting
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by Becky Mahurin
What rights do students have in patenting research in which they are involved? Students have the same rights, under U.S. patent law, as anyone. If a student, graduate or undergraduate, contributes creatively to an invention, then that student is legally an inventor.
Student inventors who invent as part of a paid position such as a research associate or whose invention is part of the fulfillment of a graduate degree, are required to assign that invention to the university. In exchange, if MSU accepts assignment of the invention, the university will pay patenting costs and work to license the technology. Students share in revenues in the same manner as full-time researchers.
Students have been named as inventors on at least five patents filed by MSU. Many more have served in technical capacities on research which ultimately becomes part of a patent. This research involvement and patenting experience is beneficial when seeking post-graduate employment.
MSU requires that students involved in research sign a Memorandum of Understanding to describe the rights of students in that project. If you or your major professor need copies of this agreement or copies of the MSU patent policy, please go to our Forms & Policies page or
contact
994-7868.
Becky Mahurin
Director of the Technology Transfer Office at MSU
© 2000 Montana State University-Bozeman
Discovery January/February 1998
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