Protecting and Exploiting Your IP

The REO is here to help ensure that you protect your Intellectual Property (IP) and derive maximum benefit from it. We can give you advice on ownership and protection of research results, identifying opportunities for commercial exploitation of the university's research, managing the university's IP portfolio and finding commercial partners for IP licensing.

A copy of the University’s IP policy is available here. (Login Required)

Please contact Dr Janice Pittis for advice or assistance.

The meaning of ‘IP’

The term ‘Intellectual Property’ refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. IP can be protected under legislation.

Four types of IP

The four main types of IP are:

Copyright: Copyright protects material, such as literature, art, music, sound recordings, films and broadcasts.
Designs: Designs protect the visual appearance or eye appeal of products.
Patents: Patents protect the technical and functional aspects of products and processes.
Trade Marks: Trade Marks protect signs that can distinguish the goods and services of one trader from those of another.

However, IP also covers know-how (trade secrets), plant varieties, geographical indications, performers’ rights and so on. Often, more than one type of IP may apply to the same creation.

Useful IP terms

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
Intellectual Property Rights give legal recognition to the ownership of Intellectual Property. Some rights are automatic, but others require action in order to gain IP protection.

Licensing is often the most effective way of controlling the transfer of technology from the university to industry. It enables the university to maintain ownership, and therefore control, of its IP whilst at the same time generating royalty income from the use of its IP by industry.

IP License Agreement
An IP License Agreement is a contract under which an owner of IP (the licensor) permits another person (the licensee) to engage in activities that, in the absence of the license agreement, would infringe the licensor’s legal rights attaching to the IP.