Quick guide to intellectual property (IP)

The term ‘intellectual property’ or ‘IP’ describes creations of the mind that can be legally owned and protected. As a University researcher, you may create, or co-create, valuable IP.

Your IP can include the subject matter, methods and tools you create as part of your research. The types of IP you create and who owns it depends on your role at the University. How we protect IP can also be different.

IP includes patents, inventions, designs, literary and artistic works, trade marks, processes and formulae, lab notebooks, designs, databases, software trade secrets and teaching materials.

University policy defines the ownership of IP. The University owns the IP you create as a staff member, except for scholarly works. If we make revenue from commercialising the IP you create, we share this revenue with you as the creator.

Ownership of IP for staff also depends on the source of your funding, your employment status, and the terms of any agreement you’re working under.

As a student at the University you own any IP you create as part of your studies. These are called ‘scholarly works’. If you create any IP as part of your research, you may own it, unless there is an agreement with an external organisation. This is called a 'specified agreement'.

As a student you can be the sole contributor or creator of IP. Your supervisor is often also a creator. If you’re asked to sign any form or agreement, talk to your supervisor first.

If you’re working with a team, on a collaborative project with your supervisor, or in a large research centre it’s important to respect the rights of joint contributors. We encourage you to discuss, define, agree and document IP issues before the project starts.

All University researchers must disclose all new intellectual property to us. You need to do this whenever you’ve discovered or created something unique that could have commercial value, solve a significant problem, or be made into a product or service by an industry partner.

Tell us about your IP before you make it publicly available by publishing, presenting it at a conference, sending out a press release or talking to anyone outside the University. If you don’t, this can mean you can’t protect your idea and take it to market later.