What are the rules when a student invents something and submits it in an assignment?
K-12 and university in Canada and the United States… What happens if the teacher or other student steals the idea and tries to patent it? What if the invention is in the idea stage? What if the student is compelled to do the assignment? Have you ever encountered such a situation?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
4 Answers
Make a certified copy of your invention and mail it to yourself. Never open the envelope. As long as the envelope is not opened, you are protected with your suggestion or a new invention.
@john65pennington , yeah, known as the “poor man’s patent”, that’s one way to do it, but is not effective enough to stand in court. That method might be useful for temporarily copywriting some written work, but not an invention.
If you don’t have any documented proof that it’s your idea, then it’ll just be your word versus hers, or witnesses might help. That stuff is tricky and it gets really messy. You should protect your idea from the outset, if you feel it’s worth something and you don’t want it stolen.
And if it’s a video game, you can always get your grandma to play against the thief to prove whose it really is ;)
You will have 1 year from public display of your invention to get a real patent it. After that, it is up for grabs. Unfortunately you will need $10K to do that.
Patent it, copyright it, trademark it, protect it. Make sure your family attorney is in on it.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
