The University has no ownership rights in discoveries created by a student solely for the purpose of satisfying course requirements, unless: the student creates the discovery with someone covered under CU’s Discoveries & Patents policy, assigns ownership rights in the discovery to the university in writing; or assignment of such ownership rights to the university is required for participation in a course.
The university won’t claim ownership of student discoveries unless the student is employed by the university, used substantial resources, or the work is part of a university-interest discovery. Employed students, award holders, or those using substantial resources will be bound by the Discoveries & Patents policy and recognized as inventors. Substantial resources exclude course participation, unrestricted funds under $5,000, or common facilities. Students involved in a university-interest discovery will also be bound by the policy and recognized as inventors. In cases where the university has an interest in discoveries created by a student, the student will be treated as an inventor under the Discoveries & Patents policy and will be entitled to share in the distribution of royalties as provided in the policy. The lab share of any student covered by the policy will be directed to such student's supervisor's lab account; these funds should be directed to furthering the student inventor’s research for the duration of the student's involvement at CU.
If the university owns a student’s discovery, the Technology Transfer Office manages its commercialization, including patent protection and licensing. Students can participate in startups commercializing university IP, following CU’s guidelines. If the office doesn’t commercialize the discovery, it may be released to the inventors, who can then commercialize it, abiding by CU’s licensing guidelines.
If the university doesn’t own a student’s discovery, the student can request to join CU’s technology commercialization process. If accepted, the student assigns ownership to the university, and the discovery is managed under the Discoveries & Patents policy.
If the university doesn’t own a student’s discovery, the student can commercialize it, but must follow CU’s licensing guidelines.
