ChiefNode

Can a professor sell his own lectures?

With Slashdot, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the local student newspaper, etc. all weighing in, North Carolina State University is facing some problems. A professor is taping his own lectures, and making them available on a website -- for sale.

I'm just more surprised at the huge bite that the website is taking out of the sale. The technology provider gets more than the content provider, which just seems wrong.

So, will NCSU decide that there are a certain number of lectures (on tape) included free for enrolled students? And the rest they pay for? Will NCSU examine their IP policies and try to close a "loophole?" There haven't been too many cases on scholarly materials, teaching materials, and the ownership & rights involved. This is one to watch.

posted by Dana Bostrom @ 10:22 0 Comments

Give access to the negative

My colleagues & I always felt that "negative information" -- about research going on -- was just as important as the positive. What was tried that failed? What wasn't tried (but considered), and why? Companies often need this kind of information, as well as the "best mode" which is available when filing a patent application, in order to work on improvements, or bring something to market.

Many would say that the "negative information" is "trade secret" or should be transferred to others via consulting. That may be true, but is often not treated as trade secret at a university. So I'm happy to see more journals publishing negative information. Hooray for more sharing, and sharing information that is helpful -- even if it makes one look bad. Scientific progress.

posted by Dana Bostrom @ 10:16 0 Comments