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Intellectual property

What is IP?

Intellectual Property (IP) is a way of describing every new idea your mind has. As a researcher, IP is central to everything you do, invent or create. IP doesn’t have to have a commercial application or potential to be important, as it is managed through research funding contracts and collaboration agreements. If IP is commercially valuable, it can be registered through a patent, a trademark, a design, or plant breeder’s rights. 

Who owns IP?

The Intellectual Property Policy and its subordinate procedures, the Intellectual Property Procedure and Commercialisation of Intellectual Property Procedure, set out the processes around IP.  Key points from the policy and procedures include:

UniSQ Staff

The University as an employer owns all intellectual property created by employees in the course of their employment or created using University resources, including all teaching materials, except for intellectual property in the following:

  • scholarly works;
  • indigenous knowledges; and
  • any other intellectual property created by an employee under a written agreement between the employee and the University that provides that the employee owns the intellectual property.

Students

The University does not assert ownership of intellectual property created by students except where the intellectual property is:

  • created by a student as part of their responsibilities as an employee; or
  • assigned to the University by a student under a written agreement, for example as a condition of the student's participation in a University project.

Visitors

The University requires visitors to enter into a written agreement with the University that addresses the use of background intellectual property made available by a visitor, the use and protection of the University's background intellectual property, and the creation of new intellectual property by a visitor. This agreement must be entered into before visitors commence any teaching, research or other activities at the University.

Contractors

Prior to engaging a contractor for the delivery of goods or services, relevant employees (e.g. contract owners) will ensure that a written agreement is put in place between the University and the contractor that outlines the appropriate protection of the University's interests with regard to intellectual property.

Are you a student being asked to assign your IP?

You will receive a letter from the University outlining the request with an attached IP Deed of Assignment. Read these documents carefully, noting that IP assignment transfers your right to use, commercialise and protect your IP to UniSQ.

If you have questions about:

  • the contents of the agreement - Seek external counsel (the letter will outline how the University supports you to get this advice);
  • the contractual process - Contact the Research Contracts team;
  • the impact on your candidature and/or scholarship if you do not sign the agreement - Contact the Graduate Research School; and/or
  • the project scope and research involved in the project - Contact your supervisors.

Note that even though you will still own the copyright in your thesis after signing an IP deed, the publishing of your thesis and/or other publications may be delayed if this is required in any third party agreement with an industry partner. This will not affect the examination of your thesis.

How is IP commercialised?

The Research Partnerships team works with you to transform your research and expertise into innovative products, services, and enterprises, extending your innovation’s reach for societal gain. Please see the commercialisation of intellectual property information for further details.

Further information 

To find out more about IP, view the following resources:

In the event of issues arising in relation to IP, contact the Director, Research Partnerships in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) in the first instance.