This is absolutely hilarious, a really funny little grift.
Having said that, the resolution to this is obvious - the professor is going to get quietly asked to leave the university, the patent could never be used since there's very clear prior art - not that it ever would, since it's only valid in China, the student doesn't seem like they're actually pursuing the idea, and if it were ever applied I suspect it'd only be a pretext which would screw you in China anyway.
Obviously the idea of pursuing the professor for stealing the work seems likely to be a dead end. Of course getting a guilt payment out of the university may be one avenue, although UK universities are pretty tight and perfectly willing to throw their staff under the bus.
I've got to say, I can't imagine this is the only time this has happened. Maybe we're about to find a whole slew of these incidents.
Having said that, the resolution to this is obvious - the professor is going to get quietly asked to leave the university, the patent could never be used since there's very clear prior art - not that it ever would, since it's only valid in China, the student doesn't seem like they're actually pursuing the idea, and if it were ever applied I suspect it'd only be a pretext which would screw you in China anyway.
Obviously the idea of pursuing the professor for stealing the work seems likely to be a dead end. Of course getting a guilt payment out of the university may be one avenue, although UK universities are pretty tight and perfectly willing to throw their staff under the bus.
I've got to say, I can't imagine this is the only time this has happened. Maybe we're about to find a whole slew of these incidents.