What is the difference between inventorship and ownership, and how is ownership determined?
Inventorship resides with the person(s) who have created the work–designed or written software, produced a video piece, crafted a tutorial tool, or discovered an improved manufacturing process, for example. Ownership refers to the legal possession of a patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or of a copyright registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. The determination of copyright or patent ownership is based on the extent to which University resources, facilities, or other support or contracts were involved in the development of the work or whether the material was created within the scope of employment duties. If the work’s creation is dependent upon University involvement, most likely the ownership will go to the University. University ownership, however, does not diminish the primary role of the author or inventor of a work. Inventors maintain creative control of the development, enhancement, or presentation of the work; they are entitled to receive a share of roya
