Undergraduate students, professional students (such as law and medical students), and others who are not Penn State employees are not required to sign the Intellectual Property Agreement. They own any intellectual property that they create.

However, situations may occur in certain courses or special projects where students are presented with the opportunity to participate in projects or activities in which the ownership of any resulting intellectual property must be assigned either to the University or to a sponsoring entity as a condition of the student’s participation. Special Student Intellectual Property Policies and Agreement Forms are available to deal with all of the situations requiring assignment, or notification of the sponsors of the research. Faculty Guidance on Student Intellectual Property Rights are also available.

Now, this Intellectual Property Agreement they’re talking about basically states that anything you may invent while under the employ of the University becomes the intellectual property of the University. But, if you’re just an ordinary student, you’re in the clear, so go ahead and invent whatever groundbreaking thing you want.

If you want to take a look at the patents owned by Penn State, check it out here.

My favorite is Method of Using Waste Tires as Filter Media (It’s recycling, man).

Another good one is Regal Pelargonium plant named ‘Maiden Berry Swirl’ (Who knew Penn State pulled a “God” and invented a plant?)

And finally, Reading and Writing Stored Information by Means of Electrochemistry (That would have some pretty cool applications.)

Feel free to search through the Database and post your favorite Penn State patents in the Comments!

[Source] [Source via @inventionsofman] [Picture]