MCPS: Royalties anyone?

Did you know that MCPS empolyees can collect royalties from products developed through their employment? In 2005, Councilmembers asked Superintendent Weast a specific question about the ability of MCPS staff to collect royalties. Here is the answer that was supplied to Council President Perez:

See how that answer says ...and there will be no benefits received by the employee? It makes one think that the phrase is part of the regulation. But it's not. Here is the full text of Regulation GCA-RA:

Supplies, equipment, or instructional materials produced alone by an employee of MCPS, or produced in association with other such employees, for which substantial time, facilities, or materials of MCPS have in any way been used, shall become the property of the Montgomery County Public Schools. In a situation where the activity is performed partially on private and partially on public time, the specific arrangement will be approved in advance by the superintendent of schools.

Well look at that! MCPS employees CAN receive royalty payments from vendors doing business with MCPS if the employee says that part of their "activity" was performed on private time. It only takes an O.K. from the Superintendent!