Review of Intellectual Property (IP) in Agreements and Publications

Review of Publications for Commercial IP

We encourage researchers to be aware of the possibility that they might create IP with commercial value. Each case-manager is happy to receive submissions of papers/posters and presentations for review to determine the commercial potential of the research. Should your work have commercial potential the TTO will file a patent, if needed, and attempt to bring your research to the marketplace.  The drafting and filing of a patent can be completed quite quickly in cases where there is pressure to disclose the research (due to an upcoming conference/journal deadline)– in general this is not encouraged as secure patents need time to be drafted properly. It is important to note that filing a patent does not mean a moratorium on publication. Peer-reviewed articles and high profile academic presentations, post-filing, are encouraged in order to aid commercialisation efforts as they provide substantive and accessible indications of the quality, importance and value of the protected IP.

Review of Publications Prior to Submission

Some funding bodies insist that all publications are submitted for IP approval to the TTO office prior to public disclosure. These should be directed to your appropriate case-manager. The case manager will endeavour review and feed back on these submissions within a pre-agreed and reasonable period of time.

Grant Applications

Many grant applications also require specific College sign-off on matters relating to IP. In such cases researchers sign a College IP Agreement before submission of the proposal. This is a declaration by the researcher that s/he is familiar with, and agrees to abide by, both the sponsor’s and College’s IP policies.

Grant applications are endorsed by the Research Development Office, who will pass any IP related queries to the TTO as they occur. The Research Development Office will only endorse applications and provide the appropriate college signatory when all IP matters have been resolved satisfactorily.