Ethics of Technology and Science Seminar II Ethics of Technology and Science Seminar II Nov 17, 2016 Saleh Rezaeiravesh Céline Robo Frida Sjögren Kári Sveinbjörnsson Gopi Krishna Tummala

Moral problem suggested How to distribute the patent rights between supervisor and PhD student in case of sudden breakthrough?

The dilemma: What would you do? You are a PhD-student Did all lab work (including much of the planning)… …and discovered something (a drug to cure cancer) that you could potentially make a lot of money from Funding from EU Your supervisor does not want to put your name on patent (says everything is based on his/her ideas) Your supervisor already owns a company and might be able to put the product on the market much faster than you could What would you do?

Areas affected by the dilemma Own career Economy Relationship with supervisor Supervisor’s career Feelings Work culture Social responsibility What are the possibilities ? The risks ? Dishonesty to scientific community. It will go back on professional responsabilites Perfect but can lead to future conflict Greater Normal until problems Surfaces but future roadblocks Normal

Discussion

What would be our choice? Discuss politely Demand your right Involve higher authority Court Or… patent it yourself!

Talk politely to supervisor Own career: + Stays intact - May loose claim Economy: + Might get a share - Might get nothing Relationship with supervisor: + No change Supervisor’s career: + Continues and blooms because of patent Feelings: + Happy if supervisor says yes - Feel cheated and disheartened if supervisor says no. Work culture: + Stays normal - Other supervisors, or this one, may do the same again Social responsibility: + No risk Most polite and least aggressive course of action. Also the least likely to result in a gain.

Demand the share aggresively Own career: + May flourish if “yes” - May get fired (or not recommended) Economy: + Might get a share if “yes” - No salary if fired Relationship with supervisor: + Might respect taking a stand - Will go bad (more likely) Supervisor’s career: + Continues and blooms because of patent Feelings: + Very happy if supervisor says yes - Defeated, hurt and angry if supervisor says no. Work culture: + Stays normal - Other supervisors, or this one, may do the same again Social responsibility: + No risk More direct option but risks the relationship with the supervisor.

Shortcut Path- Patent It Yourself Own career: + No possibilities - May not get a job in the same field Economy: + you gain a lot - No risks Relationship with supervisor: + No possibilities - Will be completely ruined Supervisor’s career: - It continues as it was Feelings: + You may feel good or bad - Supervisor feels cheated Work culture: + Paranoid atmosphere - PhD students will suffer in long term Social responsibility: - Slight risk More direct option but risks the relationship with the supervisor.

No actions (Just leave it to be…) Own career: + Stay normal - Nothing happen and you do not get any credits Economy: + No gain - you loose potential share Relationship with supervisor: + Nothing happens - Might happen again Supervisor’s career: + Super good - No risks Feelings: + no possibilities - You might feel cheated/loser Work culture: + no possibilities - Not a good example for the future Social responsibility: + No possibilities More direct option but risks the relationship with the supervisor.

Falsify the data (to claim patent on wrong values) Own career: + Nothing happen in short term - Can be really bad in long term Economy: + Nothing happens - No one gain anything in log term Relationship with supervisor: + Stay the same - Goes very bad Supervisor’s career: + Improves - Can go very bad Feelings: + Revenge ! - Worried/sleepless Work culture: + Nothing happens - Paranoia Social responsibility: + No possibilities - Huge risks ! More direct option but risks the relationship with the supervisor.

Legal Route- Sue the Supervisor Own career: + No possibilities - Jeopardizing your career Economy: + You will gain if you win - You loose career and money Relationship with supervisor: + No possibilities - Will be ruined Supervisor’s career: + Reputation may go down - Will bloom if he/she wins Feelings: + No possibilities - All parties concerned will be under stress and anxiety Work culture: + Might help in developing new framework - Bad precedent and whole university reputation may go down Social responsibility: - High risks as many lives may possibly be lost during legal proceedings Most polite and least aggressive course of action. Also the least likely to result in a gain.

Discussion and Questions Thank you for your attention!