Student as Sharecropper?

Do the intellectual property rights to student work produced in the normal activities of a regular course belong to the student or to the University in which the student is enrolled? Should taking (and paying for) a college course be considered a "work for hire" arrangement? Well, if a student is taking certain courses at UH-Manoa's Academy for Creative Media, that student is required to assign all copyright of her work produced in the course to the ACM.

This unsavory (unjust?) policy is currently being challenged by a student in our program, who is waiting for a response from the ACM. The ACM's tactics and attitude toward this issue have so far been very disappointing. We have been researching the legalities of the policy and are honored that our cause is being supported by eminent IP legal scholar Lawrence Lessig. See his recent post: On teaching artists rights

See also a movement by USC students to change their similar policy here.

We hope the ACM will reconsider the more draconian and excessive terms of its agreement, especially the requirement for students to sign away their rights or be dropped from the course. This is a misguided policy and a disturbing precedent that undermines the ideal of fostering an environment of free exchange of knowledge--if that notion has (or ever had) any meaning in higher education.

Stay tuned...


---Jake Dunagan