Losing My Software Rights?

vintagepc writes "Having written a piece of software as part of my research employment, I now face (and will later face again, with other software I've developed), the issue of intellectual property rights. The legal department stated that if I was paid by the University to produce the software, the University would own all rights to it. This is supposedly black and white, not a gray area. However, I was hired as a research student, not directly by the University, and also via a research award (NSERC). Furthermore, it turns out that faculty members here, in fact, retain their intellectual rights to any software they write. At this point, I can still back out, since I have not explicitly agreed to the conditions, but this decision must be made soon. So, I turn to the Slashdot community to ask: Are they allowed to completely strip my rights to the software? If anyone has had any similar experiences, then what was the outcome? Additionally, is this a normal action, or do I have some maneuvering room?"

Re:Negotiate.

[Anonymous Coward]

they will crank you full of amphetamines and use you as a vibrator for female elephants

Re:Negotiate.

[larry bagina]

I'd prefer a three way agreement.

What "SOFTWARE RIGHTS"?!?

[mi]

Do you believe in imaginary property or something? Information wants to be free, you know... New York County Lawyer will be helping your University (or whoever else gets a hold of your code) to dodge any and all legal challenges you may pursue — you wouldn't even know, who they are, because the University will bravely refuse your subpoenas against John (and Jane) Does.

whee

[dissy]

* Dissy puts on the lawyers hat

As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top. And you'll need the cocaine. Tape recorder for special music. Acapulco shirts. Get the hell out of L.A. for at least 48 hours.

* Dissy takes off the lawyer hat
* Dissy puts on his robe and wizards hat

Er wait...

EULA style

[Shadow of Eternity]

DISCLAIMER: By reading this post you agree to Great Grandparent post.

Re:whee

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh no, a lawyer that can cast Lev 3 Eroticism. I'll just duck behind this sofa.

Oh double no, there's another one back here

Re:EULA style

[laejoh]

Or, said the XKCD [xkcd.com] way...

Re:attorney - and you're probably wrong. Fail.

[Oligonicella]

You mean that a single word, standing by itself cannot be used to denote punctuation? Bullshit.