Re:Leaving academia
by ModernMech on Tuesday January 11, 2022 @03:32PM
(#29897420)
I understand what RSUs are, but the way I look at it, they are essentially payment for the fact that Google or whoever owns the IP to all of your output. The kind of IP language in contracts I've been under can be quite onerous, and NDAs can even prevent you from talking about your work freely! Or are there situations where industry researchers own the IP they create at e.g. Google, and can go on to create companies based off of that IP?
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Re:Leaving academia
by lapsedacademic on Tuesday January 11, 2022 @09:31PM
(#29901562)
I'm sure; I didn't mean to imply otherwise. The appreciation in RSUs can have a staggering effect on total comp even to those of us who should know better :)
Regarding IP: Yup. It's true. If you're willing and able to do the work to make millions in ARR from your IP then academia can break even. (beware tech transfer... universities can be more predatory than the slimiest of VC firms!)
Even at tippy top R1s that's a tiny fraction of faculty and requires a ton of extra work. But, yeah, it's a good case where academia can make sense.