IP ownership and University staff
The University asserts ownership of IP, other than scholarly works, created by its staff. By ‘scholarly works’ the University means articles, books, musical compositions, creative writing or like publications or any digital or electronic version of these works. It does not include work that is 'teaching material' or any work that comes within the terms of the University’s invention disclosure policy.Teaching materials
'Teaching material' means all versions, whether digital or otherwise, of information, documents and materials created or used for the primary purpose of teaching and education at the University, including the permitted adaptation or incorporation of scholarship, learning or research for that primary purpose. This includes lecture notes that are made available to students, computer-generated presentations, course guides, overhead projector notes, examination scripts, examination marking guides, course databases, websites and multimedia-based courseware.Duty of invention dislosure
Invention disclosure applies where something new and useful has been conceived and developed, where the IP may need protection and/or where the invention, technology, software or multimedia product has commercial potential. It does not apply to literary works, musical creations, or works of art. University policy (pdf, 24kb) includes a mandatory requirement for staff to lodge an invention disclosure where:
- the invention has the potential to be developed for commercial application, or
- disclosure is a legal requirement specified in a third party agreement
Students as members of staff
If a student is also employed part-time by the University as a staff member, rights to IP they create will vest in the University. Students are advised to separate, where feasible, the work that they undertake as a student from that undertaken as an employee. Casual employees of the University have no rights in relation to ownership of IP.
If a student is also employed part-time by the University as a staff member, rights to IP they create will vest in the University. Students are advised to separate, where feasible, the work that they undertake as a student from that undertaken as an employee. Casual employees of the University have no rights in relation to ownership of IP.