Intellectual Property Rights

What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual Property (IP) is a collective name for a set of legally enforceable interests which confer on their owners the exclusive right to use inventions and fixed expressions of ideas. Patents protect industrially applicable devices, processes, and chemical compounds. Copyright protects written, musical, and artistic works and most computer software. Two different forms of design right protect shape and appearance. Other rights protect databases, plant varieties, and semiconductor topographies.

Why is IP important?

IP is an asset which can – like other forms of property – be bought, sold, lent, and mortgaged.

We want to ensure that we do not infringe any IP rules or regulations.

What is the College’s policy?

College students are not required to assign their IP to the college.

Staff and contractors working on behalf of the college are required to assign IP to the college. This means that anything generated by them in the course of employment or contracted work with the college to the college.

How does this affect me?

If you are a student, this policy does not affect you in as far as you are not required to assign your IP. However, we remind you to remember to follow copyright protection rules when using course materials and as part of your wider research.

If you are a staff member or contractor, there will be a clause in your contract of employment or engagement which specifically assigns IP to the college, you are required to sign and agree to this clause in advance of conducting any work whatsoever for the college.

Electronic Submission and Intellectual Property

Students are required to submit coursework electronically. Electronically submitted coursework will be made available on College systems for the purpose of marking, assessment and quality assurance.

Last update: September 2020, Review: August 2021