Updated January 2023
MIT Policy 13.1 defines intellectual property (“IP”) as “patentable inventions, copyrightable works (including software and mask works), Materials, trademarks and Supporting Information.”[1]
The chart below outlines guiding principles that are intended to help you understand under what circumstances you may or may not have rights to IP in accordance with MIT Policy 13.1. However, issues of IP ownership are always fact-specific and this chart is not intended to address all scenarios.
For questions about a specific IP ownership issue, please contact tlo@mit.edu.
Who Owns the IP?
FOR UNDERGRADUATES
Curricular Courses
Student owned
Exceptions[2]: Certain capstone courses such as Beaver Works; UROPs for credit
Work done as a Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant
MIT owned, unless it falls within an exception as set forth in MIT Policy Section 13.1.3.
MIT Sponsored Hackathons
Student owned
Maker Spaces
Student owned
Exceptions[3]: Using a Maker Space to build upon or improve existing MIT-owned IP
Exempt Programs[4]Student owned, provided that such participant(s) receives advance clearance from the Executive Director of the Technology Licensing Office.
UROPs
MIT owned[5]
Internships or Externships and Non-MIT Sponsored Hackathons
Usually owned by the third party, not the student (could be negotiated with the third party)
Collaboration, Sponsored Research or Other Sponsored Agreement
MIT owned[6]
FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS[7]
Curricular Courses
Student owned
Work done as a Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant
MIT owned, unless it falls within an exception as set forth in MIT Policy Section 13.1.3.
MIT Sponsored Hackathons
Student owned
Maker Spaces
Student owned
Exceptions: Using a Maker Space to build upon or improve existing MIT-owned IP or using Maker Spaces for projects that are not separate and distinct from the scope of research being performed using MIT Funds
Exempt ProgramsStudent owned, provided that such participant(s) receives advance clearance from the TLO.
UROPs
N/A
Internships and Externships and Non-MIT Sponsored Hackathons
Usually owned by the third party, not the student (could be negotiated with the third party)
Collaboration, Sponsored Research or Other Sponsored Agreement
MIT owned
[1] “Materials” means items and information created, collected, developed, derived, or obtained in the course of MIT research (for example, audio-recordings; certain datasets; specifications; biological specimens; microchips; circuits; devices; and chemical samples).
“Supporting Information” means any and all records, memoranda, notes, schedules, plans or other documentation and information that describe or support Intellectual Property.
[2] Undergraduate students must sign the Inventions and Proprietary Information Agreement (IPIA) in these circumstances.
[3] Undergraduate students must sign the IPIA in these circumstances.
[4] “Exempt Programs” means those programs listed by the Office of the Vice President for Research, which may change from time-to-time, and are described at: https://research.mit.edu/research-policies-and-procedures.
[5] Undergraduate students must sign the IPIA in these circumstances.
[6] Undergraduate students must sign the IPIA in these circumstances.
[7] All graduate students must sign the IPIA.