I don't think others should profit form his work. So yes, I think he should be able to copyright it and at least share in the profit. As I recall it was a the Dole-Hatch Act in the 80's that allowed them to copyright the discoveries, I think it needs further amending. My only problem is that some "scientists" refuse to share what information and data they produce. Copyright laws seem to hinder the sharing of info, there should be reform. I think most Universities are a combo of public and private grants. In energy research I understand the majority is private funding. They work side by side with industry that does get to protect their discoveries. --- retenney@yahoo.com wrote: From: Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] OT: Science and public funding Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:07:34 -0800 (PST) Now that you mention it, I don't remember him mentioning the source of his funding. I was assuming public funds, as he teaches at UCSB. And for argument's sake, let's assume it was public funds. Does he then have the right to copyright his work so he can personally profit from it? --- On Fri, 1/30/09, zaurak@digis.net <zaurak@digis.net> wrote:

From: zaurak@digis.net <zaurak@digis.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] OT: Science and public funding To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Friday, January 30, 2009, 11:59 AM Hi Rich,

As I see it the problem is that the privately funded research becomes propitiatory so what is published and shared is up to the company funding the research. In the case of the Drug Industry they can choose not to release studies that show harmful affects of the drug the spent to develop, Avandia for example. They are simply to invested in the outcome of the study to be trusted to do good science. Results should not be censored, and result should be analyzed by independent people. In the case of energy sources they can withhold data that shows what a competing energy source is capable of providing.

It seems contrary to good science, and paticularly in the case of medical research, all studies should be public domain. I think this clearly shows the fallacy that private funding provides and advances science better than public funding. Did the speaker advocate changes in the current funding environment?

Erik

--- retenney@yahoo.com wrote:

From: Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] OT: Science and public funding Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:54:54 -0800 (PST)

So after attending last night's excellent F.O.S. lecture at the U on emerging solar photovoltaic technology, I came away a little troubled by something that I realized in the course of the lecture. I post this by way of trying to better understand things, so if I'm wrong in what I'm thinking here, please one or more of you correct me.

It occurred to me that we are publicly funding (taxes, NSA grants, etc.) university-level research that in turn is being copyrighted and commercialized by the individuals receiving the grants for personal gain. I recognize that their hard work and creativity certainly deserves to be rewarded, but shouldn't scientific breakthroughs funded by taxes become public domain, available to any and all enterprising talent to bring said technologies to market (at a far more rapid pace than could said individual, who certainly wouldn't be excluded, and in fact have a head-start due to his/her intimate understanding of the emerging technology)? Aren't we the venture capitalists in that sense, entitled to share in the profit? Or is the profit that cool new things come to market?

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on the subject... /R

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