There are many types of Intellectual Property (‘IP’) IP that can be successfully commercialised:
| IP right | Application |
|---|---|
| Patents | New products, devices, materials, methods or software |
| Copyright | Literary & artistic works, documents, databases & software code |
| Trade marks | Signs, logos, trade names, slogans, colours & smells |
| Design rights | 2D/3D appearance |
| Database right | Simple databases |
| Trade secrets/ know-how | Knowledge gained from experience |
As an employee of the University, IP developed as part of your normal duties is owned by the University. IP created during the course of a funded project may however be subject to ownership provisions contained in an associated award letter or research contract.
To provide information on IP being developed, submitting an invention disclosure is the first step and done via the inventor portal. An IP & Commercialisation manager (IPCM) will be assigned to discuss the disclosure and next steps.
A clear understanding of the IP being discussed and its ownership is important. Funding can be requested by the team responsible for the innovation to gain a better understanding of the IP landscape, i.e. what else is out there, and the potential for patent protection which in turn can influence the commercialisation path.