Intellectual property

Intellectual property (IP) is the result of intellectual or artistic activity, created by a member of the university in a scholarly, professional or student capacity that can be owned by a person. Examples:

• Inventions
• Publications
• Computer software
• Works of art
• Industrial and artistic designs

Some types of IP are legally protected under legislation including:

• Patent: protection against others making, using, or selling your invention
• Copyright: protection against others making copies of or modifying your artistic work
• Trademark: protection of a unique combination of words, designs, or both that identify specific goods or services
• Industrial design: protection of visual features (e.g., shape, pattern) that is a unique product design feature

IP can also be protected under trade secret agreements, or through a contract when ownership and licensing terms are negotiated. It is the right of the owner of IP to enforce their rights against any third party infringement. 

UVic’s policy on intellectual property applies to IP created by members of the university in their university-related work and/or using university resources. The policy also applies to IP created by external research contractors (unless the Vice-President Research has approved otherwise) and to persons providing services to the University under a contract for services or written agreement. Under this policy, ownership of IP is creator-owned although exceptions are allowed and include when the regulations of a sponsor of a grant or research contract require different IP terms.

Contracts staff and other members of the RPKM unit work closely together to develop IP agreements that set out ownership and licensing arrangements for new intellectual property arising from research activities, or address rights to pre-existing intellectual property to be used in a research project.

If you want to pursue commercialization of IP or want to protect IP that you think may have commercial value, we suggest you contact RPKM.