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Intellectual Property

My course HDR Resources for HDR students 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.

Intellectual Property Policy

Student Research IP Procedures

Understanding IP video

Epigeum Online Module 

Instructions for supervisors 

Process of assigning IP

7 steps to follow for IP discussions

The process of assigning IP is managed through the Student Research IP Procedures. If you are asked to consent to assigning over your HDR project IP, you should:

  • Review the Intellectual Property Deed if one has been emailed to you
  • Follow the links above to
    •  Read the University’s Intellectual Property Policy and Student Research IP Procedures
    •  Watch the video ‘Understanding IP’
  • Discuss the matter with your supervisor
  • Consider seeking your own independent legal advice prior to signing this Deed. You can contact the University of Adelaide’s Legal Outreach Service or the University of South Australia’s Legal Advice Clinic, who both offer a free legal advice service to tertiary students or you can contact the Law Society of South Australia for a listing of South Australian lawyers and law firms. Neither the University nor your supervisor can provide advice to you about your rights regarding assignment.
  • You are not obliged to enter into such a written agreement before you have been given a reasonable period to review, seek external advice and discuss such agreements. This is normally at least two weeks
  • Consider completing the Epigeum Online Module: Intellectual Property in the Research Context

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.

Instructions for Supervisors

  • Create an Epigeum account
  • Submit  Student Intellectual Property Assignment request –ensure you have a copy of any third party contract ready to upload

Need help?

If you have any questions related to our HDR programs and courses or require any additional information please don't hesitate to contact us. 

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Last Updated: 09 May 2025

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