Intellectual Property

Intellectual property (IP) is the property of your mind or proprietary knowledge. It is a productive new idea that you create. This can be an invention, trademark, design, brand or even the application of your idea. This can also include original contributions that are part of larger industry or externally funded projects.

HDR students will own their IP in the research that they produce throughout their candidature unless there is a written agreement to the contrary. There may be instances when the IP needs to be assigned to the university, supervisor or funding body, if the activity meets any of the conditions below:

• is subject to an agreement or activity involving the University and a third party (e.g. industry placement or externally funded scholarship or research activity), or
• has, or is likely to have, potential for commercial exploitation
• is likely to result in IP which is jointly created by the student’s supervisor or other University staff or academic status holders
• builds upon pre-existing University-owned IP
• involves the creation of teaching materials for future use by the University.

Usually, prior to starting a research project, a supervisor indicates that a student will be required to sign an agreement assigning project intellectual property rights to the University or a relevant third party. However, there are some instances where project IP is required to be assigned after a project has started, such as if third-party funding is awarded after the student commences their candidature, or there are major breakthroughs during the research.

Epigeum Online Module: Intellectual Property in the Research Context

If you need some further information on IP, you can complete the Epigeum online course. If you have not already set up an Epigeum account, you can do so by referring to instructions for HDR students.

An understanding of intellectual property is essential for researchers in any disciplinary field. This course will provide a clear explanation of this subject area and will guide you through many of its practical applications, from publishing papers to commercialising research. The course provides Master's students and PhD candidates with a grounding in the key areas of IP, from copyright and publishing to patents, trademarks, design rights, confidentiality, ownership, and exploitation

• Understand the four main types of intellectual property right
• Analyse an innovative or creative output in terms of intellectual property rights generated
• Discuss the appropriateness, or not, of registering an intellectual property right
• Apply the appropriate ownership rules to intellectual property you have been involved in creating
• Suggest ways of exploiting intellectual property rights created in your own work.

Need help?

If you require any support or would like to talk to someone, please don't hesitate to contact the Office of Graduate Research.