Scholarly work
Intellectual property
When you create articles, books, photographs, teaching materials or other intellectual or artistic works, it is important to know your rights under Canada's Copyright Act and UVic’s policy on intellectual property.
Intellectual property (IP) refers to assets such as:
- patents
- industrial design rights
- trademarks and trade names
- copyright (and moral rights)
- trade secrets
- other intangible rights under federal or provincial law
UVic’s IP policy outlines copyright ownership and usage for works created at UVic. Generally, faculty, staff and students own copyright in the works that they create through teaching and research, with some exceptions.
Ownership can also be influenced by agreements or contracts signed with those who may have a stake in the works they helped create or fund, including:
- departments
- industry sponsors
- co-authors
Registering copyright
Adding the © symbol
Using a copyright symbol is not mandatory in Canada, but some countries require it. The marking includes the © symbol, the copyright owner’s name and the year of first publication. It is a helpful reminder that the work is protected by copyright.
Filing an application
Registering a copyright is optional in Canada. To register a copyright, file an application with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and pay the required fee.
There is no review or approval of works for registration. The applicant is responsible for making sure the work is original and meets the registration requirements.
You can choose to use a pseudonym instead of your real name when applying for copyright registration. This allows you to stay anonymous as the author and owner of a copyrighted work.
Term of protection
In Canada, copyright protection lasts for the author’s lifetime plus 70 years after their death.