What is IP?
We’ll work with you to identify, protect and manage any intellectual property (IP) that results from your research.
Understanding intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) refers to the ideas, knowledge and creative outputs that come from humans — things like inventions, software, designs and written work. It is intellectual because it comes from your creative or scholarly effort, and property because it can be owned and managed like any other asset.
Protecting IP
Intellectual property rights (IPR) are the legal protections that safeguard the ideas and outputs created through research. They help prevent others from copying or misusing your work, and give you control over how your ideas are shared, developed and used.
IPR include patents, copyright and trademarks. The one you need depends on the nature of your research outputs, but all play an important role in enabling responsible development and maximising market impact — whether that’s attracting investment into a new company or collaborating with an organisation to bring your research to market.
Your IP options
Patents
A patent gives you a time-limited monopoly – usually up to 20 years – over a new and useful invention. In return, you publicly disclose how your invention works, helping advance knowledge while protecting market potential.
The exclusivity associated with patent rights can be attractive to potential licensees (those interested in using your invention), as it gives them the confidence to invest their time, money and expertise into it, without the risk of others copying it.
To qualify for patent protection, your invention must be:
- New – not previously disclosed or made public anywhere in the world
- Inventive – not an obvious development to someone skilled in the field
- Useful – capable of industrial application
It also can’t fall into certain excluded categories, including artistic creations, business methods, mathematical methods and some types of software.
Determining patentability can be complex and costly, but the benefits can be considerable. We work closely with patent attorneys to assess your invention and guide you through the application process.
Copyright
Copyright protects original creative expression, including:
- literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works
- films, audio recordings, broadcasts and online content
- software and algorithms
- Clinical Outcome Assessments
Copyright protection arises automatically as soon as a work is created, it lasts for decades and gives the University (and you as a creator) control over how the IP is used.
Once protected, we work with you to share your IP with external parties through licensing. Whether that’s enabling companies to build products, supporting academic collaboration or creating revenue to reinvest in research, we help find the right route for your goals.
Licensing
A licence is a contract that allows one organisation to use another organisation’s Intellectual Property – usually for a fee. Once your IP is protected, it is possible to license it to others, allowing organisations or individuals to use it under agreed terms. Licensing is a key route to translating your idea into products, services and societal benefit, and we’re here to assist you through that process.
Other forms of IP protection
Confidential information, trade secrets and know-how
Confidential information is any data or knowledge that is shared under the condition that it remains private and undisclosed. Confidential information is valuable and should be shared only when a Confidentiality Agreement (CDA) or Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is in place. Know-how and trade secrets are forms of confidential information that can be commercially licensed.
IP at a glance
Get in touch
If you’re not sure which is the right route for you, we can help. Get in touch and we’ll work with you to manage your next steps.